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.

International Affairs

senate

Legislation Details

Urges NATO members to oppose the confirmation of a new Secretary General if the candidate was a former leader of a member country that did not meet the 2% GDP defense spending commitment.
References the 2006 agreement among NATO members to spend 2% of GDP on defense.
Notes the reaffirmation of this commitment at the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales, with a 10-year timeline to meet the spending goal.
States that by 2022, only 11 NATO countries met the 2% minimum, including the U.S. and U.K. as the only major economies.
Highlights that several countries increased defense spending in 2023, with expectations for 18 countries to meet the commitment in 2024.
Emphasizes the importance of this commitment for the defense of NATO member nations and the strength of the alliance.
Asserts that the next Secretary General should not come from a country that failed to meet the 2% defense spending requirement.
Argues that the failure to meet the spending commitment is a matter of choice rather than circumstance.
Claims it would be hypocritical for NATO to be led by someone from a country that did not fulfill its defense spending obligations.
Encourages all NATO member countries to prioritize and meet their defense spending commitments.