Bill Summary
This resolution expresses the Senate's support for Finland and Sweden's accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and urges expedited ratification of the accession protocols. It highlights the contributions and roles of both countries in the international community and their alignment with NATO's values. The resolution also acknowledges the changing security situation in Europe due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the need for NATO to adapt and strengthen its capabilities. It recognizes the qualifications and contributions of Finland and Sweden to the alliance and calls for swift action in completing the accession process.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation may affect people by causing tension and division within their communities, as some may support the decision to join NATO while others may oppose it.
2. It may also affect people living in Finland and Sweden by potentially increasing their security and protection from potential threats, as NATO provides collective defense to its member nations.
3. The legislation could also have economic implications for people in Finland and Sweden, as joining NATO may require the countries to allocate more resources towards their defense budgets and potentially impact their domestic policies and programs.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 646 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 414
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 646
Expressing the Senate's support for Finland and Sweden's accession into
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the expedited
ratification of accession protocols.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2022
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Schumer, Mr. McConnell, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Coons, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Baldwin,
Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Portman, Ms. Rosen,
and Mr. Shelby) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 14, 2022
Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment to the preamble
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the Senate's support for Finland and Sweden's accession into
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the expedited
ratification of accession protocols.
Whereas Sweden and Finland are substantial contributors to the international
community and play important roles in the United Nations, the European
Union, the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe, and other
international organizations;
Whereas, during the Cold War and since its end, Sweden and Finland sought to
maintain peace in their region through policies of military non-
alignment and neutral relations between Russia and the West, while
nonetheless remaining true to their values and condemning the Russian
government's authoritarian acts;
Whereas the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022,
forced the transatlantic community to reconsider the geopolitical
stability of their region;
Whereas NATO is the most successful political-military alliance in history and,
guided by a set of common values, provides collective defense to nearly
1,000,000,000 people living in its member nations;
Whereas the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine marks the largest military
conflict in Europe since World War II, representing a dramatic shift for
European security and requiring NATO to change its policies to increase,
modernize, and enhance its force posture and to create more strategic
depth to adequately confront the new challenges, specifically those
posed by Russia and China;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have provided incredible support to NATO-led
operations, such as the International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan, KFOR in Kosovo, and peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and
Herzegovina;
Whereas both Finland and Sweden have been model members of NATO's Partnership
Interoperability Initiative since its founding in 2014, and of NATO's
Partnership for Peace since its founding in 1994;
Whereas NATO has a range of capabilities that can enhance the ability of Sweden
and Finland to defend and deter conflict in their region;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have well-developed professional militaries and
sophisticated defense industries that can provide NATO with new
capabilities to bolster collective defense;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have proven their willingness and capability to
contribute to cooperative international security efforts by donating
military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and imposing coordinated
sanctions on Russia;
Whereas each prospective NATO member is expected to have a functioning
democratic political system based on a market economy, fair treatment of
minority populations, a commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully, an
ability and willingness to make contribution to NATO operations, and a
commitment to democratic civil-military relations and institutions;
Whereas, alongside a number of our European allies, Finland and Sweden have
recently announced the expansion and reform of their militaries, efforts
that can be maximized if channeled toward collective security through
the NATO framework;
Whereas the Arctic region, which holds increasing importance for United States
and European security, has already seen encroachments from Russia and
China, and Sweden and Finland are uniquely poised to address these
regional challenges and help NATO confront them; and
Whereas Russia has threatened Sweden and Finland with ``serious military and
political consequences should it choose to join NATO'': Now, therefore,
be it
Whereas Sweden and Finland are substantial contributors to the international
community and play important roles in the United Nations, the European
Union, the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe, and other
international organizations;
Whereas, during the Cold War and since its end, Sweden and Finland sought to
maintain peace in their region through policies of military non-
alignment and neutral relations between Russia and the West, while
nonetheless remaining true to their values and condemning the Russian
government's authoritarian acts;
Whereas the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022,
forced the transatlantic community to reconsider the geopolitical
stability of their region;
Whereas NATO is the most successful political-military alliance in history and,
guided by a set of common values, provides collective defense to nearly
1,000,000,000 people living in its member nations;
Whereas the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine marks the largest military
conflict in Europe since World War II, representing a dramatic shift for
European security and requiring NATO to change its policies to increase,
modernize, and enhance its force posture and to create more strategic
depth to adequately confront the new challenges, specifically those
posed by Russia and China;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have provided incredible support to NATO-led
operations, such as the International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan, KFOR in Kosovo, and peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and
Herzegovina;
Whereas both Finland and Sweden have been model members of NATO's Partnership
Interoperability Initiative since its founding in 2014, and of NATO's
Partnership for Peace since its founding in 1994;
Whereas NATO has a range of capabilities that can enhance the ability of Sweden
and Finland to defend and deter conflict in their region;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have well-developed professional militaries and
sophisticated defense industries that can provide NATO with new
capabilities to bolster collective defense;
Whereas Sweden and Finland have proven their willingness and capability to
contribute to cooperative international security efforts by donating
military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and imposing coordinated
sanctions on Russia;
Whereas Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom cut off natural gas exports
to Finland and NATO allies, thereby further demonstrating Russia's use
of gas exports to undermine transatlantic security and pressure United
States allies and partners;
Whereas each prospective NATO member is expected to have a functioning
democratic political system based on a market economy, fair treatment of
minority populations, a commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully, an
ability and willingness to make contribution to NATO operations, and a
commitment to democratic civil-military relations and institutions;
Whereas, alongside a number of our European allies, Finland and Sweden have
recently announced the expansion and reform of their militaries, efforts
that can be maximized if channeled toward collective security through
the NATO framework;
Whereas the Arctic region, which holds increasing importance for United States
and European security, has already seen encroachments from Russia and
China, and Sweden and Finland are uniquely poised to address these
regional challenges and help NATO confront them; and
Whereas Russia has threatened Sweden and Finland with ``serious military and
political consequences should it choose to join NATO'': Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) welcomes Finland and Sweden's decision to join NATO;
(2) acknowledges that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has
dramatically changed the security situation in Europe, and that
the reform and expansion of NATO is key to ensuring a safe and
prosperous future for the United States and critical allies and
partners;
(3) recognizes that Sweden and Finland have surpassed the
qualifications expected of prospective members and that both
countries have much to contribute and gain from membership in
the NATO alliance;
(4) reaffirms its support for NATO's collective security
commitment and for maximizing our allies' combined defense
capabilities through NATO coordination and cooperation;
(5) calls on the President to move expeditiously to
complete all documents and reports needed to support the
Senate's approval of the accession protocols; and
(6) calls on all NATO members to move rapidly to complete
their ratification processes.
Calendar No. 414
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 646
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the Senate's support for Finland and Sweden's accession into
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the expedited
ratification of accession protocols.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 14, 2022
Reported with an amendment to the preamble