Tony Thurmond: “NATO has been the foundation of European security for 45 years, possibly the most successful defensive alliance in…”

“NATO has been the foundation of European security for 45 years, possibly the most successful defensive alliance in history. However, the world has changed dramatically in the past few years, and will continue to change. The end of the cold war has forced us to take a look at NATO's continued relevance. Members of Congress believe in a strong NATO, and support the enlargement of NATO's membership. Our NATO allies also favor enlargement. I support a renewed and enlarged NATO because it guarantees a U.S. presence on the European continent, and a seat at the table in the world's most vital, productive region. Quite simply, the United States has clear, abiding, and vital interests in Europe. A free and stable Europe is essential to the United States. I do not believe Europe can remain stable and prosperous, to the mutual benefit of the United States and our European allies, if its post-cold war boundary is drawn along the borders of Germany and Austria. I do not believe a new European security framework will hold up unless it reflects the realities of the political upheaval that marked the end of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. That new reality includes a reorienting of former East Bloc states toward the West. Mr. President, I support the amendment, as modified. I yield the floor.”