[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 557 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 520
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, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Rubio, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Young, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Isakson) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
July 17, 2018
Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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
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 was when 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 timeline of a crisis may constitute
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), and
has demonstrated the importance of NATO's Open Door Policy 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--
<DELETED> (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'');</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) emphasizes the need for all NATO member states
to be prepared to meet their respective obligations under
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) urges leaders who will be meeting at the 2018
NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium to ensure that NATO--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) meets urgent security
threats;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) adopts a rapid reinforcement plan
that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) expedites political decision
making;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) reinvigorates the NATO
command structure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) streamlines the capacity to
mobilize forces across national borders;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) improves joint readiness
goals.</DELETED>
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;
(2) emphasizes the need for all NATO member states to be
prepared to meet their respective obligations under Article 5
of the North Atlantic 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) reaffirms its full support for the sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its
internationally recognized borders and condemns the Russian
Federation's illegal invasion and attempted annexation of
Crimea, which is in direct violation of the Russian
Federation's obligations under the Helsinki Final Act and the
subsequent Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances signed in
December 1994;
(5) calls for the sanctions that have been imposed and
maintained to date by the United States and the European Union
against persons engaged in furthering the illegal occupation of
Crimea by the Russian Federation to remain in place and demands
full implementation with respect to the Russian Federation of
existing sanctions mandates and authorities relating to Crimea
under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions
Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-44; 131 Stat. 866), the Global
Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title
XII of Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note), and other
relevant provisions of law until Crimea is returned to Ukraine;
(6) 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;
(7) 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
(8) 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 evolve to counter emerging
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.
Calendar No. 520
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 557
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 17, 2018
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble