Central ND News

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) have joined forces with several colleagues to inquire about the evaluation of U.S. activities in relation to defense expenditures of NATO members. The Senators sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, seeking clarification on how the Department of Defense plans to implement Section 1250 of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

In the letter, the Senators highlighted the importance of NATO members meeting the commitment to allocate two percent of their GDP to defense spending. They pointed out that only 18 allies are projected to meet this threshold in 2024, raising concerns about the readiness of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“Our government must hold these allies accountable and Section 1250 of the FY24 NDAA is an important step in that direction. NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense,” the Senators emphasized in the letter.

The provision in question requires the Secretary of Defense to assess whether NATO members have achieved the 2 percent defense spending target when considering U.S. military basing, training, and exercises within the alliance. The Senators expressed that it is unreasonable for the United States to fulfill its financial obligations if other NATO members do not uphold their commitments.

The letter, co-signed by several other Senators, including Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) among others, requests an update by March 18 on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities in relation to NATO members' defense expenditures, in line with the requirements of the FY24 NDAA.

The Senators are urging for accountability and fair burden-sharing among NATO allies to ensure the collective defense capabilities of the alliance are maintained.