WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was recently appointed by the Senate to join the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, which serves as a bridge between the U.S. Senate and NATO allies.

“As Russia’s unprovoked war with Ukraine threatens European stability, a unified NATO is essential to deterring further threats and preserving American peace and prosperity,” said Sen. Moran. “Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have regularly met with NATO military leaders stationed throughout Europe, and I am pleased to now join the Senate NATO Observer Group to continue strengthening this transatlantic alliance. Through this bipartisan group my colleagues and I will track the implementation of NATO initiatives, assess its military capabilities and review NATO defense spending to protect democracy and safeguard freedom for the U.S. and our NATO allies.”

Items to Note:

• The Senate NATO Observer group was first established in 1997 and helped guide the Senate approval process for aspiring NATO allies from former Soviet satellite countries in Eastern and Southern Europe.
• The Senate NATO Observer Group meets regularly with leaders from the Departments of State and Defense and with key NATO leaders, including the Secretary General.
• Current members of the Senate NATO Observer Group include U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) as co-chairs, along with John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cory Booker (R-N.J.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

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