Congressional Documents
[Page: S3657]
Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. Lott) proposed an amendment to the resolution of ratification for the treaty (Treaty Doc. No. 105-36) protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. These protocols were opened for signature at Brussels on December 16, 1997, and signed on behalf of the United States of America and other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty; as follows:
In paragraph (1) of section 3, after `(1) The Strategic Concept of NATO: ' insert the following:
(A) Policy of the United States Toward the Strategic Concept of NATO: The Senate understands that the initial adaptation of NATO's strategy for the post-Cold War environment is contained in the Strategic Concept of NATO (as defined in (1)(E)), and that its core concepts remain relevant today as the North Atlantic Alliance approaches the 21st century. The Senate understands that the policy of the United States toward the revised Strategic Concept shall reflect that fact and shall be based upon the following principles:
(i) First and Foremost a Military Alliance: NATO is first and foremost a military alliance. NATO's success in securing peace is predicated on its military strength and strategic unity.
(ii) Principal Foundation for Defense of Security Interests of NATO Members: NATO serves as the principal foundation for collectively defending the security interests of its members against external threats.
(iii) Promotion and Protection of United States Vital National Security Interests: Strong United States leadership of NATO promotes and protects United States vital national security interests.
(iv) United States Leadership Role: The United States maintains its leadership role of NATO through the stationing of United States combat forces in Europe, providing military commanders for key NATO commands, and through the presence of United States nuclear forces on the territory of Europe.
(v) Common Threats: NATO members will face common threats to their security in the post-Cold War environment, including--
(I) the potential for the re-emergence of a hegamonic power confronting Europe;
(II) rogue states and non-state actors possessing nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons and the means to deliver these weapons by ballistic or cruise missiles, or other unconventional delivery means;
(III) threats of a wider nature, including the disruption of the flow of vital resources, and other possible transnational threats; and
(IV) conflict in the North Atlantic area stemming from ethnic and religious enmity, the revival of historic disputes or the actions of undemocratic leaders.
(vi) Core Mission of NATO: Defense planning will reaffirm a commitment by NATO members to a credible capability for collective self-defense, which remains the core mission of NATO. All NATO members will contribute to this core mission.
(vii) Capacity to Respond to Common Threats: NATO's continued success requires a credible military capability to deter and respond to common threats. Building on its core capabilities for collective self-defense of its members, NATO will ensure that its military force structure, defense planning, command structures, and force goals promote NATO's capacity to project power when the security of a NATO member is threatened, and provide a basis for ad hoc coalitions of willing partners among NATO members. This will require that NATO members possess national military capabilities to rapidly deploy forces over long distances, sustain operations for extended periods of time, and operate jointly with the United States in high intensity conflicts.
(viii) Integrated Military Structure: The Integrated Military Structure of NATO underpins NATO's effectiveness as a military alliance by embedding NATO members in a process of cooperative defense planning and ensuring unity of command.
(ix) Nuclear Posture: Nuclear weapons will continue to make an essential contribution to deterring aggression, especially aggression by potential adversaries armed with nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. A credible NATO nuclear deterrent posture requires the stationing of United States nuclear forces in Europe, which provides an essential political and military link between Europe and North America, and the widespread participation of NATO members in nuclear roles. In addition, the NATO deterrent posture will continue to ensure uncertainty in the mind of any potential aggressor about the nature of the response by NATO members to military aggression.
(x) Burdensharing: The responsibility and financial burden of defending the democracies of Europe will be more equitably shared in a manner in which specific obligations and force goals are met by NATO members.