Unilateral presidential withdrawal would be prohibited.
A bipartisan group of senators has revived legislation proposing measures to prevent U.S. presidents from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval. Senators Tim Kaine and Marco Rubio are the lead sponsors of the measure.
As NATO leaders (including President Biden) were meeting in Europe, Senator Rubio stated, “NATO serves as an essential military alliance that protects shared national interests and enhances America’s international presence. Any decision to leave the alliance should be rigorously debated and considered by the U.S. Congress with the input of the American people.”
Senator Kaine said, “NATO is stronger than ever. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to NATO and ensure any U.S. president can’t unilaterally decide to leave the alliance without congressional approval.”
Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate in 2019. It was passed in committee but did not go further. This time around may prove to be successful as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which would initially approve the legislation, voiced strong support for the measure last year.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Senators Rubio and Kaine as they seek to protect the military alliance of the U.S.
- For President Biden and his administration as they oversee national security.
- For wisdom for the heads of state of the NATO countries as they accept new members.
Sources: The Hill, The Guardian
