```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 642 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

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;
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) declares that the next Secretary General of the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization should not be a former leader of a 
        member country that did not spend 2 percent of its gross 
        domestic product on defense spending;
            (2) emphasizes that the demonstrated ability of countries 
        with economies of all sizes within the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization to meet the 2-percent defense spending minimum 
        proves that the failure of a member country to meet the 
        commitment is a choice of will and not of circumstance;
            (3) acknowledges that it would be hypocritical for the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization to be led by a Secretary 
        General who formerly led an alliance member country that failed 
        to fulfill the 2-percent gross defense spending minimum;
            (4) declares that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
        will never reach its full potential as long as the Secretary 
        General is a member of a country's leadership that did not 
        fulfill its commitment to the Organization; and
            (5) urges all member countries to prioritize defense 
        spending and to meet their obligations to the North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization.
                                 <all>
```