Legislation enacted by Congress would make it impossible for any president to remove the US from NATO without the Senate’s consent or an Act of Congress.
The yearly National Defense Authorization Act, which was pushed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), contained the legislation. President Biden is anticipated to sign it after it was approved by the House on Thursday.
The clause highlights Congress’s support for the NATO alliance, which was the object of former President Trump’s animosity when he was in office. Under Biden, the alliance has regained significance, particularly in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a statement, Kaine said, “NATO has stood strong in response to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war in Ukraine and rising challenges around the world.” Reaffirming U.S. commitment for this vital partnership that is the cornerstone of our national security, he continued, is the legislation. Additionally, it strongly conveys to authoritarians everywhere that the free world is still unified.
According to Rubio, the legislation was an essential instrument for congressional oversight.
In a statement, he said, “We have to make sure that we are safeguarding both our national interests and the security of our democratic allies.”
During his presidency, Biden has made significant investments in the NATO alliance, sending more soldiers and military hardware to Europe as a show of force against Putin’s war. In addition, he has been in charge of the alliance’s growth to include Finland and the continuous efforts to win Sweden’s full membership.
Prior to 2024, Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has given conflicting signals on the alliance. Supporters of the former president claim that his stern language and criticisms of the alliance encouraged member nations to fulfill their commitments to reach 2 percent of defense spending, which reduced the load on the United States.
However, Trump’s detractors claim that the alliance’s cohesion and resolve are weakened by the former president’s comments. Additionally, they voiced worries that Trump will fully withdraw the United States from the alliance or renounce its commitment to its mutual defense accord.