This bill requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a comprehensive report on the infrastructure readiness of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies located on the Eastern Frontier. This report, due within 180 days of enactment, will assess each ally's progress in integrating its national infrastructure with NATO requirements, recognizing the long-term threat posed by the Russian Federation and the disproportionate responsibilities these allies bear in regional defense plans. The report must detail the status of various infrastructure types, including transportation , energy , communications , financial systems , civil preparedness , and the defense industrial base . It will also evaluate the allies' progress toward a NATO commitment to invest 1.5 percent of their gross domestic product in critical infrastructure and resilience. A key component is the identification of consequential infrastructure shortfalls that could impede reinforcement or sustainment of combat operations, or create single points of failure exploitable by Russia. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the report include recommendations to address these identified shortfalls, suggesting adjustments to U.S. security cooperation programs, prioritization within the European Deterrence Initiative, and opportunities for cost-sharing. Following this, the Comptroller General is required to review the Defense Department's report, providing an independent assessment of its methodology and recommendations. Finally, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to prioritize U.S. security assistance and cooperation activities for these Eastern Frontier allies, with annual briefings to Congress on budget implementation.
This bill requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a comprehensive report on the infrastructure readiness of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies located on the Eastern Frontier. This report, due within 180 days of enactment, will assess each ally's progress in integrating its national infrastructure with NATO requirements, recognizing the long-term threat posed by the Russian Federation and the disproportionate responsibilities these allies bear in regional defense plans. The report must detail the status of various infrastructure types, including transportation , energy , communications , financial systems , civil preparedness , and the defense industrial base . It will also evaluate the allies' progress toward a NATO commitment to invest 1.5 percent of their gross domestic product in critical infrastructure and resilience. A key component is the identification of consequential infrastructure shortfalls that could impede reinforcement or sustainment of combat operations, or create single points of failure exploitable by Russia. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the report include recommendations to address these identified shortfalls, suggesting adjustments to U.S. security cooperation programs, prioritization within the European Deterrence Initiative, and opportunities for cost-sharing. Following this, the Comptroller General is required to review the Defense Department's report, providing an independent assessment of its methodology and recommendations. Finally, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to prioritize U.S. security assistance and cooperation activities for these Eastern Frontier allies, with annual briefings to Congress on budget implementation.