Presidents can pull out of NATO only with congressional OK under Pentagon bill

While most of the attention was focused on the $841.4 billion the Pentagon will receive from the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, and Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia Democrat, inserted a provision that would prevent presidents from unilaterally pulling out of NATO.

This week, Congress passed the NDAA with strong majorities — 87-13 in the Senate and 310-118 in the House. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law.

“NATO has held strong in response to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war in Ukraine and rising challenges around the world,” Mr. Kaine said in a statement.

Former President Donald Trump constantly ripped European countries during his time in office for being delinquent in their funding of NATO. If elected to a second term in the White House, he would be unable to withdraw from the alliance without running it past the House and Senate.

“The Senate should maintain oversight on whether or not our nation withdraws from NATO. We must ensure we are protecting our national interests and protecting the security of our democratic allies,” Mr. Rubio said in a statement.

Mr. Kaine called U.S. support for NATO “foundational for our national security.”

“It also sends a strong message to authoritarians around the world that the free world remains united,” he said.