Utah Sen. Mike Lee introduces 3 bills targeting NATO

By ramontomeydw // 2025-06-27

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U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced three bills targeting NATO, including the Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act, which initiates U.S. withdrawal under Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty, and two companion bills requiring annual reports on allies failing to meet defense spending targets.
Lee and GOP colleagues, including Sens. Rand Paul and Marsha Blackburn, accuse NATO members of shirking financial obligations, with the U.S. bearing disproportionate costs while allies neglect their commitments.
Many NATO nations have not met the 2014 pledge to spend two percent of GDP on defense, fueling frustration among U.S. lawmakers – a debate reignited by President Donald Trump's demands for fairer burden-sharing.
Critics warn NATO withdrawal would destabilize security, while supporters argue the alliance burdens U.S. interests. The bills reflect growing backlash against funding allies unwilling to meet obligations.
While Lee's proposals align with GOP skepticism of NATO, their passage remains unclear. Supporters argue Europe must take responsibility or risk U.S. disengagement.

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced three proposals in the Senate targeting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The bills he introduced coincided with the alliance's two-day meeting from June 24 to 25 at The Hague in the Netherlands. The first bill, titled Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act, would formally initiate the U.S. withdrawal process under Article 13 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty. Alongside the NATO Act, Lee introduced two companion measures – the Allied Burden Sharing Report Act and NATO Burden Sharing Report Act. Under these bills, the U.S. Department of Defense must publish annual reports detailing which allies are failing to meet defense spending targets. The reports would assess troop readiness, military-industrial capacity and contributions to Ukraine, exposing chronic freeloaders. "America has shouldered the burden of NATO freeloaders for decades," the senator for the Beehive State said Tuesday, June 24. "Year after year, our so-called allies shirk their commitments while we pay for the conflicts raging in their backyards." "NATO has run its course. The threats that existed at its inception are no longer relevant 76 years later," Lee followed up in a statement Wednesday, June 25. "If they were, Europe would be paying their fair share instead of making American taxpayers pick up the check for decades."

Sen. Rand Paul: NATO members treat U.S. as a "sugar daddy"

The move comes amid long-standing frustration among U.S. lawmakers that American taxpayers are footing the bill for allies unwilling to meet their commitments. President Donald Trump reignited the debate with his repeated calls for NATO members to boost military spending and contribute their fair share. (Related: Trump demanding NATO members spend 5% of GDP on defense – may impose TARIFFS on allies that do not pay up.) Lee's proposals gained support from his Republican colleagues in Capitol Hill. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a cosponsor of the companion measures, accused NATO members of treating the U.S. as a "sugar daddy and the world's policeman while they sit back." Tennessee Sen Marsha Blackburn echoed the sentiment, reiterating that "Europe's security is not America's sole responsibility." The criticism by the GOP senators reflects historical tensions. Many NATO members have lagged behind the two percent GDP defense spending pledge made in 2014, with some nations still falling short even as war rages in Ukraine. Past U.S. administrations have pressed NATO allies to increase military budgets, but Trump escalated the pressure. He threatened trade tariffs on delinquent members and floated a demand for five percent of GDP – far above current targets. Critics warn that withdrawing from NATO would destabilize global security, while supporters argue the alliance stifles American interests. Nevertheless, the debate underscores a growing backlash against Washington footing the bill for allies unwilling to meet their obligations. It remains uncertain whether Lee's legislation gains momentum. But for him and his allies, the answer is clear: It's time for European nations to stand on their own; if they won't, America should walk away. Visit NationalSecurity.news for more similar stories. Watch former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker mentioning that NATO allies are "very likely" to boost defense spending in this Fox News interview. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sen. Rand Paul: NATO members treat U.S. as a "sugar daddy"

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