III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 642 

Urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to oppose 

confirmation of a new Secretary General, if the candidate was a former 

leader of a member country which did not spend 2 percent of gross 

domestic product (GDP) on defense. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 16, 2024 

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. BRAUN, and Mr. MULLIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to oppose confirmation of a new Secretary General, 

if the candidate was a former leader of a member country which did not spend 2 percent of gross domestic 

product (GDP) on defense. 

Whereas, in 2006, member countries of the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization (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; 


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•SRES 642 IS 

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; 

Whereas, throughout 2023, several countries significantly increased their defense spending, and in 2024, NATO expects 18 member countries to achieve the spending commitment despite historically not being able to fulfill the 

commitment; 

Whereas this commitment is important to not only the defense of all NATO member nations, but also a commitment to the alliance itself; and 

Whereas, through the Secretary General’s role as the senior 

officer of the alliance, they must advocate for the fulfillment of the commitment and the continued strength of 

the alliance: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) declares that the next Secretary General of 

3 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should not 

4 be a former leader of a member country that did not 

5 spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on de6 fense spending; 

7 (2) emphasizes that the demonstrated ability of 

8 countries with economies of all sizes within the 

9 North Atlantic Treaty Organization to meet the 2- 

10 percent defense spending minimum proves that the 

11 failure of a member country to meet the commit12 ment is a choice of will and not of circumstance; 


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•SRES 642 IS 

1 (3) acknowledges that it would be hypocritical 

2 for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to be led 

3 by a Secretary General who formerly led an alliance 

4 member country that failed to fulfill the 2-percent 

5 gross defense spending minimum; 

6 (4) declares that the North Atlantic Treaty Or7 ganization will never reach its full potential as long 

8 as the Secretary General is a member of a country’s 

9 leadership that did not fulfill its commitment to the 

10 Organization; and 

11 (5) urges all member countries to prioritize de12 fense spending and to meet their obligations to the 

13 North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

Æ 


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