New Bill Would Pull US From NATO

The U.S. was one of the original founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949, but one member of Congress says it is time for the U.S. to exit the “Cold War relic.”  

“We should withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries,” according to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has introduced a bill to remove the U.S. from NATO. 

“NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed over thirty years ago. Since then, U.S. participation has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk U.S. involvement in foreign wars,” Massie said.  

“Our Constitution did not authorize permanent foreign entanglements, something our Founding Fathers explicitly warned us against,” the congressman continued. “America should not be the world’s security blanket—especially when wealthy countries refuse to pay for their own defense.”  

Specifically, the NATO Act, which Massie introduced Wednesday, would require the president to notify NATO that the U.S. is using the authority in Article 13 of the treaty to withdraw from NATO.  

The bill draws the conclusion that the original purpose for NATO, to stand against the aggression of the Soviet Union, no longer aligns with U.S. national security interests, and further asserts that European members of NATO are capable of using their own economies and militaries to defend themselves.  

Finally, the bill prevents U.S. tax dollars from funding NATO’s civil or military budget, or its Security Investment Program used for military equipment procurement. 

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.  

Currently, NATO has 32 member countries, including the U.S.  

President Donald Trump has applied increasing pressure on NATO countries to spend more of their own gross domestic product on defense. Earlier this year, NATO members agreed to spend 3.5% of their GDP on defense and an additional 1.5% on civil preparedness, protection of infrastructure, and the like by 2035. 

The introduction of Massie’s bill comes as the House passed the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday. Included in the text of the more than 3,000-page bill that funds the Department of War are provisions that would make it more difficult for the administration to withdraw troops without Congress’ approval.  

The Pentagon would not be allowed to reduce the number of active troops stationed in Europe below 76,000 for longer than a 45-day period unless it has certified to Congress that it is in the best interest of the United States and the decision has been reached after consultation with NATO allies. 

The Senate is expected to pass the NDAA next week and Trump says he will sign the spending bill.  

George Caldwell contributed to this report.