Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has Dropped his Blockade, of Julianne Smith, President Biden’s Pick to Represent the US at NATO.

It comes after he sought Assurances that she would Press European Allies to Boost their Goal of spending 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), on their Defense by 2024.

Hawley said he was satisfied after receiving a Letter from Smith today, indicating her Support for Defense Spending above that Goal, established at the 2014 Wales Summit.

"Indeed in my personal capacity, I have long argued that NATO's defense spending target of two percent of GDP ought to be a floor, not a ceiling," Smith wrote. "It is my view that Allies should treat it as such and invest accordingly. That is because the world is not unipolar anymore."

Smith said she should work on a New Strategic Framework that Reflects an Altered Security Environment, including: Russian Aggression, Cyber Threats, and "Malign Activities" by China.

Hawley said Smith “recognizes the need and has committed to push” for Higher Ally Defense Spending.

“The 2% pledge made by NATO allies at Wales in 2014 is no longer sufficient. Today’s security environment is far worse than the one that confronted us in 2014, and our allies must increase defense spending accordingly.”, Hawley said.

With the Procedural Hold resolved, the Senate Unanimously Approved Smith’s Nomination, on Thursday afternoon.

Hawley could Not have held up her Nomination Indefinitely on his own, but Removing his Hold, allowed the Senate to Act much more Quickly.

Hawley has been Holding up Several of Biden’s Foreign-Policy and Pentagon Nominees, in Protest of the Messy US Withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He has called for Top Administration Officials to Resign over the Pullout, including Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, and Secretary-of-State, Antony Blinken.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker