Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Block US From Seizing NATO Ally Territory

A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced legislation aimed at preventing any future attempt by Washington to seize or exert control over the sovereign territory of a NATO ally. The proposed measure, titled the NATO Unity Protection Act, was introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, underscoring rare cross-party agreement on the issue.

The bill would prohibit the use of funds from the Pentagon or the State Department for any action intended to blockade, occupy, annex, or otherwise control the territory of a NATO member state without that country’s explicit consent. By placing strict limits on how federal resources can be used, the legislation seeks to reinforce respect for national sovereignty within the transatlantic alliance and to remove any ambiguity about US intentions toward its allies.

Senator Shaheen stressed that even speculative discussions about such actions could have serious consequences for NATO cohesion. “Any suggestion that the US might use its power to seize or control the territory of a NATO ally would directly undermine the alliance,” she said, emphasizing that trust and mutual respect are central to NATO’s credibility and long-term stability.