WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Co-Chairs of the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, announced they will lead a bipartisan Senate delegation to the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain on June 28-30, 2022.
Senators Tillis and Shaheen – along with members of the NATO Observer Group – will represent the U.S. Senate in meetings with NATO allies and aspirant countries to underscore U.S. support for NATO. In 2018, Senators Tillis and Shaheen re-established the Senate NATO Observer Group to closely monitor and inform Senators about the defense spending commitments of NATO members and provide updates on the process of upgrading military capabilities, NATO’s counter-terrorism capability, and NATO enlargement.
“Our support for NATO is crucial as the war in Ukraine continues,” said Senator Tillis. “It’s no secret the Russian invasion of a free and sovereign democracy has had a ripple effect across the whole world, including our own, and we must do everything we can to stand with our allies and prevent Putin from causing a widescale world war. Putin has made it clear he will not stop at Ukraine, putting many of our allied nations at risk. I look forward to leading this bipartisan delegation with Senator Shaheen to strengthen our relationship, demonstrate our support for NATO, and counter Russian aggression.”
“At a time when authoritarian regimes threaten democratic countries, the Senate NATO Observer Group sends a strong bipartisan message of U.S. support for a robust and lasting transatlantic alliance,” said Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Senators Shaheen and Tillis have the full confidence of every Senator to represent the United States Senate on the world stage at this year’s NATO Summit. The United States Senate remains steadfast in our support for the people of Ukraine and the allied global response effort to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked, violent invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting for survival in a contest that’s very much about democracy versus tyranny and the United States and our NATO allies stand squarely behind the Ukrainian people as they defend their freedom.”
“Vladimir Putin’s lawless escalation in Ukraine reinforces the need for a continued strong and unified NATO to deter and defend against serious threats to our collective security,” said Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. “Senators Tillis and Shaheen have shown strong leadership by re-establishing the Senate NATO Observer Group and bolstering the Senate’s bipartisan commitment to the transatlantic alliance and our shared security interests. I look forward to seeing them leading this bipartisan delegation as the United States and our allies take historic steps to bolster and adapt the alliance to meet new and global threats.”
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