April 4, 2016

Dear Colleague,
Today NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with the President at the White
House to discuss the fight against the Islamic State and the migrant crisis originating in the
Middle East. Later this week, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay a visit to
Armenia. Both of these visits occur amidst troubling developments of concern for the future of
the Euro-Atlantic alliance.
Russia has for years been increasing pressure on NATO’s perimeter, including a substantial
military buildup in Armenia where it has deployed advanced fighter aircraft and attack
helicopters to bases in Armenian territory. Armenia is providing access and support to over
5,000 Russian military personnel, and pursuant to a 2010 agreement, stands to receive modern
weaponry and special military hardware from Moscow until 2044. In fact, earlier this year
Russia announced the intended sale of $200 million worth of arms to Armenia, including
multiple-launch rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, handheld antiaircraft missiles, radar-jamming
systems, armored personnel carriers, sniper rifles and tank upgrades. Russia has also deployed its
most sophisticated surface-to-air and air-defense missile systems in Syria.

As a result of Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008, annexation of Crimea in 2014, and ongoing
military campaign in the eastern part of Ukraine, NATO members in Central, Eastern and
Southern Europe face what Poland’s President has described as “an aggressive neighbor that is
openly proclaiming the redrawing of the borders of Europe.”
The time to stand with our allies is now. By supporting and reassuring any NATO member states
potentially subject to Russian pressure, the U.S. will take an important step forward in
maintaining security in the region.
I urge you to read the following op-ed, written by James Foley, former Deputy Chief of Staff to
the NATO Secretary General in Brussels, which explores this issue in greater detail: Link to oped

Sincerely,

Member of Congress