Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strategic importance of NATO to the collective security of the transatlantic region and urging its member states to work together at the upcoming summit to strengthen the alliance.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and urges members to work together at the upcoming 2018 NATO summit to meet urgent security threats.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 557 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 557

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strategic importance 
  of NATO to the collective security of the transatlantic region and 
  urging its member states to work together at the upcoming summit to 
                        strengthen the alliance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 27, 2018

  Mr. Wicker (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Tillis, and Mrs. Shaheen) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strategic importance 
  of NATO to the collective security of the transatlantic region and 
  urging its member states to work together at the upcoming summit to 
                        strengthen the alliance.

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this Resolution 
        as ``NATO'') will hold its next Summit meeting July 11-12, 2018, in 
        Brussels, Belgium;
Whereas the security of the United States remains inextricably linked to the 
        security of Europe and NATO's founding purpose remains as valid today as 
        it has been since NATO was created;
Whereas our NATO allies have contributed significantly to military operations 
        led by the United States around the world, and actively contribute to 
        current Alliance missions, including the reinforcement of NATO's eastern 
        flank by leading 3 of the 4 battlegroups of NATO's Enhanced Forward 
        Presence;
Whereas while an increasing number of NATO member states are fulfilling their 
        pledges at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales to allocate 2 percent of their 
        gross domestic product towards defense spending, all NATO member states 
        should be urged to meet the 2 percent target and to allocate 20 percent 
        of their annual defense spending on major new equipment, including 
        related research and development, in order to more fairly share the 
        burden of transatlantic defense;
Whereas United States force deployments to Europe as part of the European 
        Deterrence Initiative, and the corresponding measures by NATO member 
        states in the Enhanced Forward Presence, are contributing to enhanced 
        security on NATO's eastern flank;
Whereas the Russian Federation's aggression towards its neighbors, its breach of 
        international norms, and its noncompliance with its arms control 
        commitments have severely impacted European security and will continue 
        to pose a security threat for the foreseeable future;
Whereas administrative and logistical obstacles to the mobility of military 
        assets across Europe, and the potential mismatch between the speed of 
        NATO-level decision making and the speed of a crisis, have been shown to 
        constitute potential challenges to the successful defense of NATO's 
        territorial integrity;
Whereas the cyber domain is a crucial aspect of NATO operations and a key tool 
        at potential adversaries' disposal;
Whereas NATO member states collectively face a continued and persistent threat 
        from terrorism and our NATO allies are making significant commitments in 
        keeping terrorist networks from interfering in any NATO territory;
Whereas NATO member states--

    (1) have collectively identified corruption and poor governance, 
including within member states, as ``security challenges which undermine 
democracy, the rule of law, and economic development''; and

    (2) in recognition of this challenge, adopted a Building Integrity 
Policy, which is intended to support transparent and accountable defense 
institutions under democratic control;

Whereas NATO's enlargement has delivered enhanced security and stability to all 
        NATO member states, including Montenegro (the newest NATO member), while 
        remaining incomplete and underlining the need for NATO's Open Door 
        Policy to remain in effect for all aspiring countries and for 
        invitations to join NATO to be issued as soon as an aspirant country has 
        met the conditions for membership;
Whereas the first of 10 Principles Guiding Relations between Participating 
        States contained in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe, done at Helsinki August 1, 1975 (commonly known 
        as the ``Helsinki Final Act''), recognizes the right to be or not to be 
        a party to treaties of alliance as a right inherent in sovereignty to be 
        respected on an equal basis among the signatory states; and
Whereas the commitment made by NATO in the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, 
        Cooperation and Security Between NATO and the Russian Federation, done 
        at Paris May 27, 1997 (commonly known as the ``NATO-Russia Founding 
        Act''), to ``carry out its collective defence and other missions by 
        ensuring the necessary interoperability, integration, and capability for 
        reinforcement rather than by additional permanent stationing of 
        substantial combat forces'' was predicated on ``the current and 
        foreseeable security environment'' that existed in 1997, which has been 
        fundamentally altered by the aggression directed by the leaders of the 
        Russian Federation:
Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the United States 
        to NATO's collective defense, enshrined in Article 5 of the 
        North Atlantic Treaty, done at Washington April 4, 1949 
        (commonly known as the ``Washington Treaty'');
            (2) emphasizes the need for all NATO member states to be 
        prepared to meet their respective obligations under Article 5 
        of the Washington Treaty;
            (3) pledges its support for all appropriate measures 
        collectively taken to deter and defend against, if necessary, 
        Russian aggression against the territory of any NATO member 
        state, including the explicit aim of the leaders of the Russian 
        Federation to fracture the unity between NATO member states;
            (4) emphasizes its commitment to a North Atlantic alliance 
        based on shared values, including the rule of law, to prevent 
        internal forces from eroding NATO's foundation;
            (5) encourages all NATO member states to clearly commit to 
        further enlargement of the alliance, including extending 
        invitations to any aspirant country which has met the 
        conditions required to join NATO; and
            (6) urges leaders who will be meeting at the 2018 NATO 
        summit in Brussels, Belgium to ensure that NATO--
                    (A) meets urgent security threats;
                    (B) continues to transform to counter emerging and 
                evolving challenges, including hybrid warfare, 
                terrorism, cyberattacks, and renewed challenges to sea 
                lines of communication between North America and 
                Europe; and
                    (C) adopts a rapid reinforcement plan that--
                            (i) expedites political decision making;
                            (ii) reinvigorates the NATO command 
                        structure;
                            (iii) streamlines the capacity to mobilize 
                        forces across national borders; and
                            (iv) improves joint readiness goals.
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