A resolution urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend a minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Bill: 118-sres-344
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-09-14
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S4530-4531)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-09-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses that a lack of sufficient progress by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries in achieving a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product on defense spending is politically and economically unsustainable. The resolution also (1) commends certain NATO member countries for contributing to 10% or more of NATO's direct funding and programs budget, (2) commends certain NATO member countries for meeting or exceeding their defense spending commitment, and (3) commends certain NATO member countries for contributing significant weapons and equipment to Ukraine.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 344 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 14, 2023 Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Manchin ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend a minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Whereas, in 2006, member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (commonly known as 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 many member countries issued statements pledging to meet the 2-percent minimum following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, yet many member countries are projected to not reach the minimum until as late as 2035; and Whereas, despite increased spending by some member countries, the United States, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the combined gross domestic product of NATO, ultimately pays 70 percent of the combined defense expenditures of NATO: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) agrees that the lack of sufficient progress towards 2-percent gross domestic product defense spending by member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (commonly known as NATO ) is politically and economically unsustainable; (2) views the failure of many of United States allies, including some of the largest member countries of NATO, to meet the 2-percent defense spending minimum has the potential— (A) to undermine support for NATO by the people of the United States; (B) to severely limit the ability of countries in Europe to contribute to a shared interest in defending against the Russian Federation; and (C) to become a source of long-term instability in Europe and frustration for taxpayers in the United States; (3) commends member countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, whose individual contributions constitute 10 percent or more of the NATO direct funding and programs budget; (4) commends member countries that have contributed significant weapons and equipment at substantial individual cost in support of Ukraine against the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the morally reprehensible destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure by the Russian Federation; (5) commends member countries, such as Greece, the United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, that have taken strides to either meet or exceed the spending commitment; and (6) urges all member countries to prioritize defense spending and to meet their obligations to NATO.