US President Could Be Stripped Of Power To Leave NATO

(UnitedVoice.com) – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed after WWII to prevent a war like that from ever happening again. The partnership between the European and North American countries is largely seen as one of the most important international organizations. A Republican congresswoman recently called on the president to leave NATO, but a bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to prevent that from ever happening.

According to reports, a bipartisan group of Democratic and Republican senators renewed their efforts to prevent US presidents from withdrawing from NATO without the Senate’s approval. A joint resolution states presidents “shall not suspend, terminate, denounce, or withdraw” the US from the organization “except by and with the advice and consent” of a two-thirds majority of the Senate or by “an Act of Congress.”

Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), who are both on the Foreign Relations Committee, are leading the effort. For years, lawmakers have tried to pass a bill with similar language, but it hasn’t received the support of the full Senate yet.

When Russia attacked its neighbor last year, President Vladimir Putin demanded that NATO never allow Ukraine to join the organization. However, all the invasion did was expand the alliance to include Finland and, soon, Sweden. It has also brought Ukraine closer to joining the international organization — the opposite of what Putin wanted.

Not everyone supports NATO, though. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring President Joe Biden to withdraw from the organization. The congresswoman, who is in her second term, doesn’t believe the other members of NATO are paying their “fair share” and should withdraw for economic reasons. Former President Donald Trump often complained about the US allies for the very same reason and demanded they start paying more money for their own security.

President Biden is a staunch supporter of NATO and recently reaffirmed America’s commitment to the group.