[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 344 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 344

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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
    Resolved, 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.
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