III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 344 

Urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend 

a minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. MANCHIN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend a minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic 

product on defense. 

Whereas, in 2006, member countries of the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization (commonly known as ‘‘NATO’’) first 

agreed to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on 

defense; 

Whereas, in 2014 at the NATO Summit in Wales, all member countries once again committed to maintain or move 

toward meeting the 2-percent defense spending minimum 

within 10 years; 

Whereas, by 2022, only 11 member countries met the 2-percent minimum, including the United States and the 

United Kingdom, which were the only 2 major economies; 


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•SRES 344 IS 

Whereas many member countries issued statements pledging 

to meet the 2-percent minimum following the invasion of 

Ukraine by the Russian Federation, yet many member 

countries are projected to not reach the minimum until 

as late as 2035; and 

Whereas, despite increased spending by some member countries, the United States, which accounts for more than 50 

percent of the combined gross domestic product of 

NATO, ultimately pays 70 percent of the combined defense expenditures of NATO: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) agrees that the lack of sufficient progress 

3 towards 2-percent gross domestic product defense 

4 spending by member countries of the North Atlantic 

5 Treaty Organization (commonly known as ‘‘NATO’’) 

6 is politically and economically unsustainable; 

7 (2) views the failure of many of United States 

8 allies, including some of the largest member coun9 tries of NATO, to meet the 2-percent defense spend10 ing minimum has the potential— 

11 (A) to undermine support for NATO by 

12 the people of the United States; 

13 (B) to severely limit the ability of countries 

14 in Europe to contribute to a shared interest in 

15 defending against the Russian Federation; and 


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•SRES 344 IS 

1 (C) to become a source of long-term insta2 bility in Europe and frustration for taxpayers 

3 in the United States; 

4 (3) commends member countries, such as the 

5 United Kingdom, Germany, and France, whose indi6 vidual contributions constitute 10 percent or more of 

7 the NATO direct funding and programs budget; 

8 (4) commends member countries that have con9 tributed significant weapons and equipment at sub10 stantial individual cost in support of Ukraine 

11 against the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the 

12 morally reprehensible destruction of civilian lives and 

13 infrastructure by the Russian Federation; 

14 (5) commends member countries, such as 

15 Greece, the United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Esto16 nia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, 

17 that have taken strides to either meet or exceed the 

18 spending commitment; and 

19 (6) urges all member countries to prioritize de20 fense spending and to meet their obligations to 

21 NATO. 

Æ 


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