Graham’s Article 5 Amendment Passes 100-0

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s resolution reaffirming the United States Senate’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was adopted by a 100-0 vote.

“Article 5 states that an attack on one NATO nation is an attack on all,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  “This is an important founding principle of NATO and the concept of ‘collective defense.’  Today’s overwhelming vote should reassure our allies and give notice to our enemies that America stands firmly in support of NATO and our Article 5 commitment.”   

The resolution:

• affirms the United States remains fully committed to NATO and will honor its obligations enshrined in Article 5;

• expresses the vital importance of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the charter of NATO, as it continues to serve as a critical deterrent to potential hostile nations and terrorist organizations;

• remembers the first and only invocation of Article 5 by NATO was in support of the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; 

• condemns any threat to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, or democracy of any country that is a member of the NATO.

“For almost seven decades, the principle of ‘collective defense’ has helped protect the security of the United States as well as our NATO allies,” said Graham.  “I’m very proud of the overwhelming vote by the U.S. Senate to reaffirm Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and our continued support for this incredibly important alliance which has served our nation well.”

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