Shaheen, Tillis Lead Bipartisan Senators in Reaffirming Bipartisan Support for NATO

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT) issued a statement reaffirming the bipartisan commitment in Congress to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"For over 75 years, Congress has supported robust U.S. participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization because it makes Americans safer and has made our collective economies - including the United States - more prosperous. Each year, Congress passes legislation which reaffirms our support to the Alliance, most recently through provisions to maintain a robust U.S. force posture in Europe, protect key NATO leadership roles, fund security initiatives and sustain support for Ukraine. The law also makes clear that U.S. withdrawal cannot take place without the Senate's approval.

"President Trump was right to push our Allies to carry more of the burden - and they have responded. Over the past five years, our Allies have responded to U.S. leadership and our calls to increase defense spending to rebalance burden sharing, as reflected by the recent commitment by NATO Allies to 5 percent defense spending. As an alliance of 32 nations, we will always have our differences, but it is critical that we work together to strengthen - not divide - our partnership. Any signal that the United States is stepping back risks emboldening Russia and China. A divided and broken NATO is their chief strategic aim.

"Two years ago, we celebrated 75 years of NATO at the 2024 Washington Summit. For the sake of American prosperity and security, Congress is determined to see the Alliance remain unified in promoting democracy 75 years more and beyond."

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