Risch: Biden Should Not Arrive at Brussels Empty-Handed

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement ahead of President Biden’s trip to Brussels for a NATO summit:

“President Biden should not arrive at Brussels empty-handed. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a defining moment for NATO, underscoring the precise reason NATO was formed. The parties should unequivocally affirm their original commitments to the promises of NATO. Germany has already taken bold steps to boost its defense spending, and the United States must join in leading a renewal of North Atlantic security.

“One of NATO’s core missions is crisis management. At the summit, the alliance must announce further steps to help Ukraine defend itself and provide credible deterrence aimed at Putin to keep him from escalating this conflict either with nuclear and chemical weapons or attacking NATO itself. NATO must do more to coordinate among the allies to quickly deliver everything Ukraine needs, whether that’s airplanes, medium and long-range air defense, secure communications, or other equipment. The alliance should also declare the tenets of the NATO-Russia Founding Act are no longer applicable due to Russia’s actions. Too many lives have already been lost. The Biden Administration must lead NATO, and the alliance must help Ukraine win this conflict.”

###