Whereas the United States signed the North Atlantic Treaty, done at Washington, DC, April 4, 1949 (commonly known as the Washington Treaty ), to provide collective security and strengthen security and political cooperation with allies of the United States; Whereas the United States and its allies recognized that security cooperation was a necessary precursor to enhanced political and economic stabilization and engagement; Whereas, in 1991, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (commonly known as NATO and the Alliance ) issued an unclassified Strategic Concept for the first time, outlining the basic principles and plans of the Alliance to address security challenges and strategic threats; Whereas, in 1994, NATO established the Partnership for Peace to enable partner countries to share information and modernize and democratize their political and security infrastructure with NATO; Whereas, in 1999, NATO established the Membership Action Plan to facilitate the accession of aspiring member countries by providing advice, assistance, and support in meeting the political and military principles of the Alliance; Whereas any country that wishes may pursue NATO membership consistent with the 1995 Study on Enlargement and article 10 of the Washington Treaty by— (1) pursuing formal accession talks with the Alliance; (2) sending a letter of intent to NATO, including a timeline for the completion of necessary reforms recommended by the Alliance; (3) working with member countries so that accession protocols are signed and ratified by such member countries; (4) receiving an invitation from the Secretary General of NATO to accede to the Washington Treaty; and (5) acceding to the Washington Treaty in accordance with national procedures and by depositing instruments of accession; Whereas, following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, NATO invoked article 5 of the Washington Treaty for the first time, calling on the Alliance to provide for collective defense