[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4530-S4531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 344--URGING ALL MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY 
ORGANIZATION TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 2 PERCENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT 
                               ON DEFENSE

  Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. Manchin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 344

       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

[[Page S4531]]

       (6) urges all member countries to prioritize defense 
     spending and to meet their obligations to NATO.

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