A 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.

Bill: 118-sres-642
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2024-04-16
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S2792)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 642 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

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.