Balkans Security Cooperation Act

Bill: 118-hr-612
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2023-01-27
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-01-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Balkans Security Cooperation Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Defense to report on security cooperation between Western Balkan countries and the United States, Russia, China, and NATO. </p> <p>For the purposes of this bill, the Western Balkan countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. </p> <p>The report must include (1) an assessment of how Western Balkan security cooperation with Russia and China affect the security interests of the United States and NATO; and (2) an assessment of the Russian Humanitarian Center in Nis, Serbia, and any influence or coordination it may have with Russian intelligence agencies. </p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 612 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 27, 2023 Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mrs. McClain ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To require a report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Balkans Security Cooperation Act . 2. Report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries. (b) Matters To be included The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation, including the following: (A) A list of Russian weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the Russian Federation since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the Russian Federation. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation. (E) An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (2) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China, including the following: (A) A list of Chinese weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the People’s Republic of China since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the People’s Republic of China. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China. (E) An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (3) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States, including the following: (A) A list of United States weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the United States since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the United States. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States. (4) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and NATO. (5) A description of each Western Balkan country’s participation and activities in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, if applicable. (6) An assessment of the Russian Humanitarian Center in Niš, Serbia, and any influence or coordination it may have with Russian Federation Intelligence Agencies. (c) Form The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (d) Definitions In this section— (1) the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) congressional defense committees (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code); and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) the term ‘‘Western Balkan countries’’ means— (A) Albania; (B) Bosnia and Herzegovina; (C) Croatia; (D) Kosovo; (E) Montenegro; (F) North Macedonia; (G) Serbia; and (H) Slovenia.