At NATO Public Diplomacy Forum, Shaheen and Tillis Discuss Importance of Long-Term U.S. Support for NATO

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group, spoke on a panel entitled “The Legislative Commitment to Transatlantic Security” at the NATO Public Diplomacy Forum today, where they discussed Congress’ role in supporting, sustaining and strengthening the NATO Alliance. The Senators highlighted how, since they re-started the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group to advance transatlantic security in 2018, they have supported NATO enlargement to three new countries and worked to encourage increased defense spending among Allies. 

“As we celebrate 75 years of the most successful Alliance in history, this week is showing the world that NATO is stronger and more united than ever before, thanks in part to the bipartisan advocacy and work of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group,” said Shaheen. “It’s as important as ever that NATO continues to garner strong, bipartisan support and our firm commitment to this historic Alliance—ensuring that NATO will remain the strongest military Alliance for generations to come.” 

“Congress has an important role in supporting the future of the NATO Alliance, which is why Senator Shaheen and I re-started the Senate NATO Observer Group in 2018,” said Tillis. “With growing security threats from Russia and China, strengthening NATO is more important than ever. That is why I will continue to push our NATO allies to meet the two percent defense spending obligation and work with Senator Shaheen to reaffirm the U.S. Congress’ commitment to the Alliance.”

As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group, which they re-started together in 2018, Shaheen and Tillis led bipartisan efforts in the Senate in support of the transatlantic Alliance. During the NATO Summit week, Shaheen and Tillis hosted a bipartisan meeting with NATO allies from the Western Balkans, participated in a meeting with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and met with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Last month, the Senators penned an op-ed calling for a recommitment to strengthening NATO on the 80th Anniversary of D-day. In April, the Senators sent a bipartisan letter to President Biden outlining key objectives and priorities for the NATO Summit, which is taking place in Washington, DC this week. The Senators have pushed Allies to reach the two percent defense spending target that was agreed to by NATO and have been outspoken in their support to grow the Alliance, recently applauding ratification by Türkiye’s Parliament of Sweden’s NATO accession protocols and leading a resolution criticizing Hungary’s previous delay in ratifying Sweden’s accession. 

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