; Whereas the allies invoked NATO’s article 5 collective defense clause for the first and only time to offer political and military assistance to the United States in responding to the attacks of September 11, 2001; Whereas NATO serves as a force multiplier, whose command structures, training institutions, and multilateral exercises have generated multinational contributions to United States national security priorities and enabled European and Canadian soldiers to serve with members of the United States Armed Forces in various missions; Whereas NATO is currently involved in several operations benefitting United States national security, including NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), Standing Naval Forces, Operation Sea Guardian, NATO Mission Iraq, and air policing missions in Eastern Europe; Whereas, through the Partnership for Peace and Enhanced Forward Presence, NATO has extended opportunities for cooperation with non-NATO nations; Whereas NATO members have stood against Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, reinforced existing battlegroups and established new ones, supported United States sanctions on the Russian Federation, and imposed their own sanctions measures in coordination with the United States and other allies; Whereas the NATO Wales Summit Declaration of 2014 pledged, Allies currently meeting the NATO guideline to spend a minimum of 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence will aim to continue to do so … Allies whose current proportion of GDP spent on defence is below this level will: halt any decline in defence expenditure; aim to increase defence expenditure in real terms as GDP grows; aim to move towards the 2 percent guideline within a decade with a view to meeting their NATO Capability Targets and filling NATO's capability shortfalls. ; Whereas 22 NATO nations have increased their military spending since the Wales Declaration of 2014