WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary.
“For 75 years, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has endured as a pillar of transatlantic safety, security, and peace. Today, our alliance is stronger than ever.
“What began as 12 countries aligned to deter Soviet aggression, has grown to an alliance of 32 countries committed to the collective defense of the transatlantic community and our shared values of peace, prosperity, and democracy. This year, we also celebrate our two newest members, Sweden and Finland, as they take their rightful place in the NATO family. The United States is proud to host all 32 allied nations in our nation’s capital for NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit this July.
“As we commemorate this historic anniversary, we also honor the solidarity and unity of our allies who stood by our side in the wake of the terror attack on September 11, 2001. We will never forget the only invocation of the critical commitment of Article 5 – an attack against one is an attack against all. The United States remains committed to the collective defense of our NATO allies across the world.”
###
