EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Andy Barr rolling out innovative bill to ensure NATO nations pay their defense spending share

Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.) is introducing a novel way to force countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to pay their two percent marks on defense spending: imposing visa sanctions against the citizens of countries that miss the agreed-upon threshold.

Barr’s latest bill, the NATO Burden Sharing Enforcement Act — obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter — amends Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and authorizes the Secretary of State to implement visa sanctions against NATO countries that do not hit their two percent mark on defense spending.

For years, Barr worked to strengthen NATO. He participated in the NATO 2030 hearing focused on strengthening the alliance against rising global threats. However, Barr — like President Donald Trump — doesn’t want NATO countries to freeload off of America’s generous defense spending.

His latest bill expands the current authority of the Secretary of State to discontinue granting visas to countries that are uncooperative in accepting returned deportees.

Barr serves on the House Foreign Relations Committee, and sits on the subcommittee that oversees NATO-related issues. He has long advocated for increased burden-sharing among NATO member states to ensure the alliance remains strong and effective, so his move to aggressively push for America’s allies to up their defense spending is a notable shot across the bow from a staunch NATO defender.

The Secretary of State already has this authority to discontinue granting visas to countries that are uncooperative in accepting returned deportees.