Hunter Urges NATO Ministers of Defense to “Do More” for the Mission in Afghanistan or Risk Losing Access to U.S. Defense Contracts

Contact: Josh Holly, 202.226.3988

Hunter Urges NATO Ministers of Defense to “Do More” for the Mission in Afghanistan or Risk Losing Access to U.S. Defense Contracts 

Washington, D.C. --- House Armed Services Committee Ranking Republican Duncan Hunter (R-CA) today encouraged the Ministers of Defense for the member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to uphold their commitments to the NATO mission in Afghanistan or risk losing access to lucrative defense contracts offered by U.S. taxpayers.  In a letter to individual Ministers of Defense for America’s twenty-five NATO allies, Hunter cited the disproportionate combat burden currently being carried by the United States.   

A version of the following letter was sent to each Minister of Defense, President Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and members of the House Armed Services Committee:

"I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent announcement that the U.S. Department of Defense is considering the deployment of 3,000 U.S. Marines to Afghanistan, as a result of our NATO allies’ inability to support the combat mission.  These additional troops would build on the considerable force the United States currently has serving in Afghanistan.  

"In the eyes of Congress, it is unacceptable that the United States must continue to dig deeper into its military force when some of our NATO allies are unwilling to fulfill or make robust commitments to the international effort in Afghanistan.  It is also discouraging that some of our allies continually restrict their military forces from certain geographic and operational missions, limiting the ability of our military commanders to execute their mission.

"As an Alliance built on mutual security interests, we share the common goals of a stable and moderate Afghanistan capable of fighting terrorism.  However, some nations are shouldering a heavier load than others.  Currently, the United States provides over 26,000 troops to Afghanistan—over 15,000 in support of International Security Assistance Forces and 11,000 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom—more than 50 percent of the total force provided by NATO partners.  Others, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and Poland, are making significant contributions to combat operations or are seeking to expand their commitments to Afghanistan.   

"Each NATO ally should identify and provide the maximum number of troops, military resources, and civilian support practicable.  For those NATO allies who have not held up their end of the bargain, I will utilize the National Defense Authorization Act and other legislative tools at my disposal to block those allies from having unfettered access to U.S. taxpayer-funded defense contracts. 

NATO NATION’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCES 

Source: NATO-International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Placement Chart at https://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/epub/pdf/isaf_placemat.pdf, 5 December 2007.

"As national defense leaders, we understand that success in Afghanistan is not only dependent upon our shared commitment to defeat terrorism, but it is also dependent upon each NATO nation carrying a substantially larger investment in our common security interests."

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