Newly Passed Defense Bill Bars President from Withdrawing from NATO Unilaterally

The president can’t withdraw from NATO without authorization from the Senate or use Congress-approved funds to explore a potential withdrawal.

Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium, on April 19, 2018. Yves Herman/Reuters

A new measure in the newly passed defense bill bars any U.S. president from unilaterally withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The measure, which was passed in the Senate by 65-28 back in July, has been added as an amendment to the newly passed 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (2024 NDAA).