[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 642--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

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

                              S. Res. 642

       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
       Resolved, 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.

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