484 
(7) On March 28, 2017, General Paul Selva, 
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described 
the security consequences of the deployment of such 
INF Treaty-violating missiles, testifying to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives that ‘‘our assessment of the impact is that it 
more threatens NATO and infrastructure within the 
European continent than any other...area of the world 
that we have national interests in or alliance interests 
in.’’. 
(8) On March 28, 2017, General Curtis 
Scaparrotti, in testimony before the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives, re-
sponded to a question asking if Russia intends to re-
turn to compliance with the INF Treaty by stating, 
‘‘I don’t have any indication that they will at this 
time.’’. 
(9) Rhetoric from Russian officials has dem-
onstrated that Moscow has sought to leverage its nu-
clear arsenal to threaten and intimidate neighboring 
countries, including members of NATO, as was the 
case when the Russian Ambassador to Denmark stat-
ed, ‘‘Danish warships will be targets for Russian nu-
clear missiles’’ in response to Denmark’s potential co-
operation in the NATO missile defense system. 
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(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the nuclear and conventional deterrence ca-
pabilities of NATO are of critical importance to the 
security of the United States and of the NATO alli-
ance, and must continue to adapt to the changed se-
curity environment in Europe; 
(2) the ability of the United States to forward- 
deploy dual-capable aircraft and nuclear weapons, 
and of select members of NATO to participate in the 
nuclear deterrence mission of NATO by hosting for-
ward-deployed nuclear weapons of the United States 
or operating dual-capable aircraft, is central to the 
credibility of the nuclear deterrence and defense pos-
ture of NATO; 
(3) the strategic forces of the United States, the 
independent nuclear forces of the United Kingdom 
and the French Republic, and the dual-capable air-
craft operated by the United States and other mem-
bers of NATO constitute foundational elements of the 
nuclear deterrence and defense posture of NATO; 
(4) NATO should modernize its nuclear-related 
infrastructure to ensure the highest-level of safety and 
security; 
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(5) effective deterrence requires NATO to conduct 
nuclear planning and exercises aligned with 21st cen-
tury requirements and modernize nuclear-related ca-
pabilities and infrastructure, including dual-capable 
aircraft, command and control networks, and facili-
ties; and 
(6) to ensure the continued credibility of the de-
terrence and defense posture of NATO, the planned 
completion of F–35A aircraft development and test-
ing, as well as the delivery of such aircraft to mem-
bers of NATO, must not be delayed. 
(c) INF TREATY DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘INF Treaty’’ means the Treaty Between the United States 
of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on 
the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter- 
Range Missiles, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Intermediate- 
Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty’’, signed at Washington 
December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988. 
SEC. 1237. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUPPORT FOR GEOR-
GIA. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Georgia is a valued friend of the United 
States and has repeatedly demonstrated its commit-
ment to advancing the mutual interests of both coun-
tries, including the deployment of Georgian forces as 
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part of the NATO-led International Security Assist-
ance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and the Multi-Na-
tional Force in Iraq. 
(2) The European Deterrence Initiative builds 
the partnership capacity of Georgia so it can work 
more closely with the United States and NATO, as 
well as provide for its own defense. 
(3) In addition to the European Deterrence Ini-
tiative, Georgia’s participation in the NATO initia-
tive Partnership for Peace is paramount to interoper-
ability with the United States and NATO, and estab-
lishing a more peaceful environment in the region. 
(4) Despite the losses suffered, as a NATO part-
ner of ISAF, Georgia is engaged in the Resolute Sup-
port Mission in Afghanistan with the second largest 
contingent on the ground. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Congress— 
(1) reaffirms United States support for Georgia’s 
sovereignty and territorial integrity within its inter-
nationally-recognized borders, and does not recognize 
the independence of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia 
regions currently occupied by the Russian Federation; 
and 
(2) supports continued cooperation between the 
United States and Georgia and the efforts of the Gov-
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ernment of Georgia to provide for the defense of its 
people and sovereign territory. 
SEC. 1238. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUPPORT FOR ESTO-
NIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
Lithuania are highly valued allies of the United 
States, and they have repeatedly demonstrated their 
commitment to advancing our mutual interests as 
well as those of the NATO Alliance. 
(2) Operation Atlantic Resolve is a series of exer-
cises and coordinating efforts demonstrating the 
United States’ commitment to its European partners 
and allies, including the Baltic States of Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania, with the shared goal of peace 
and stability in the region. Operation Atlantic Re-
solve strengthens communication and understanding, 
and is an important effort to deter Russian aggres-
sion in the region. 
(3) Through Operation Atlantic Resolve, the Eu-
ropean Deterrence Initiative undertakes exercises, 
training, and rotational presence necessary to reas-
sure and integrate our allies, including the Baltic 
States, into a common defense framework. 
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