; Whereas, in 2014, only three NATO allies met the 2-percent spending target, while NATO expects eight allies to meet the target in 2018, and 15 allies to reach the target by 2024; Whereas, while the 2-percent defense-spending target is an important measure of allies’ commitment to NATO, it is imperative that defense expenditures are both interoperable with, and strengthen, NATO’s critical military capabilities; Whereas Russia fundamentally challenges the peaceful world order that NATO has sought to foster and aspires to extend as it continues its illegal occupation of territory in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia; and Whereas strengthening NATO’s capabilities is critical to the future of the alliance to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia to NATO’s east, the threat posed by ISIS, and instability to NATO’s south, as well as emerging security challenges, including terrorism and cybersecurity: Now, therefore, be it