New Defense Bill Blocks President From Unilaterally Withdrawing From NATO

Lawmakers added a provision to the Pentagon authorization bill recently passed by the House and Senate that would require congressional approval for the United States to leave NATO, an organization that former President Donald Trump has been critical of.

The provision was backed by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who had previously tried to get a bill on the subject passed during the Trump administration. Biden is expected to soon sign the bill into law.

Trump has suggested he would withdraw the United States from NATO. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton said over the summer that if Trump wins election in 2024, he thinks the former president would attempt to withdraw from the alliance.

The provision would require the president to notify members of the House and Senate at least 180 days in advance of withdrawing from NATO. An act of Congress or a super majority in the Senate would be required to move forward with a withdrawal.