Representative Gerry Connolly

The NATO flag and the US flag at the NATO Parliamentary Summit on Capitol Hill.

Dear Neighbor,

Last week, as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I had the honor and the privilege of representing Members of Parliaments from all 32 NATO countries at the NATO Summit in Washington, DC.

This year's Summit could not have come at a more pivotal time for the alliance. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has only intensified, even as the Ukrainian people have deepened their heroic resolve. The threat of authoritarianism has reared its head again, and our democratic institutions now face the test of a generation. Here at home, malign actors cast doubt on NATO's legitimacy and question the very purpose for its existence.

Last week, as leaders from across the world gathered in VA-11's backyard, we reaffirmed our commitment to NATO and pledged to carry out its mission of protecting and advancing the democratic principles we all hold dear.

I want to take a moment to share with you some highlights from the Summit:

Rep. Connolly meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada.

I kicked off the Summit with a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. We had a lengthy, substantive meeting during which we reaffirmed that our committment to Ukraine, and to the transatlantic alliance more broadly, is absolute.

Rep. Connolly addresses the welcome reception for the NATO Parliamentary Summit.

After my meeting with the Prime Minister, I was back on Capitol Hill for a reception to welcome NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and representatives from our NATO Allies to the NATO Parliamentary Summit. This event set the tone for a successful, productive Summit throughout the week.

Rep. Connolly speaks to members of parliament from NATO countries.

The following morning, we gathered on Capitol Hill again for the official start of the Parliamentary Summit. I addressed the gathered Speakers of Parliament and leaders from across the alliance, followed by an engaging discussion on our shared responsibility to advance democratic values in the face of the growing authoritarian threat. You can watch my remarks here.

Rep. Connolly speals at a press conference before his address to the NATO Summit.

The next day, I gave a press conference before my address to the 32 NATO Heads of State/Government at the NATO Summit. In my remarks, I focused on the founding of NATO and the many tests that the democratic world failed in the lead up to World War II. From Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia to Hitler’s creeping advance across Europe, we democracies failed every test. Now, with NATO standing strong, we will not make those mistakes again. You can read a transcript of my speech below:

Remarks by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

NATO Summit, 2024

Excellencies, Dear Friends,

For 70 years, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has lifted the voice of Allied Parliaments.

As representatives of the expressed democratic will of our people, we have embodied the principles enshrined in the Preamble and in Article 2 of the Washington Treaty that NATO is an Alliance based on shared democratic values.

Today, democracy faces an historic test.

If you look at the 1930s, we democracies failed every test.

Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. Failed.

The Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Failed.

The collapse of the League of Nations. Failed.

The Spanish Civil War and Franco. Failed.

We failed in the reoccupation of the Rhineland, in the Sudetenland, and in Czechoslovakia.

And that led to the cataclysm of 1939-1945.

The difference between the 1930s and now, however, is NATO.

NATO is a line Putin dare not cross.

Even in his sociopathic depravity, he knows Article V is real.

In Ukraine, NATO has responded with a demonstration of unity and resolve capable of redefining the future of the Alliance, if we can bring ourselves to admit an uncomfortable truth: that the fight for democracy in the 21st century is an existential one and NATO is the essential party to the conflict.

Democracy is the underlying raison d'être of who we are and it must permeate everything we do.

We are far more than a military alliance that does not like Russia.

NATO is, it must be, the indispensable bulwark for democracy.

And this bulwark is formidable.

Democracies must gird ourselves for a fight.

The alternative is building, every day, the intellectual and operational framework to undermine democracies through cyberattacks, disinformation assaults, and propaganda campaigns.

Which is why we must meet their challenge and operationalize our own commitment to our founding democratic values by establishing concrete architecture at NATO Headquarters dedicated to democratic resilience.

The time has come to enshrine our commitment, after 75 years, to create a democratic resilience center to propound, defend, advocate, and be a resource for members, partners, and aspirants.

This is the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s top recommendation and request to all of you today.

Fortunately, the predicate for such a proposal is right there in our charter.

And the Strategic Concept you adopted two years ago in Madrid rededicates the Alliance to our founding democratic values.

Now we must act on that commitment.

Ukraine is our test.

The solidarity we have mustered in the face of Putin’s challenge gives lie to the myth that we are tired and obsolete.

Think back 75 years ago.

Europe was on its knees. The future looked very dark.

Yet this Alliance, formed in that chaos and debris, like a phoenix rising from those ashes, created something spectacular.

It created a free and successful Western Europe, and it stood up to Soviet challenges.

Today, those freedoms and that success have expanded across all of Europe, liberated from the yoke of authoritarianism.

NATO met the test of its time, and it met the test of endurance.

We showed the world a shining example of what democracy, collective democracy, could do and would do.

We need to meet that test again today by marrying the Alliance’s commitment to democracy, to the courage and bravery of the people of Ukraine who are fighting and dying every day for their right to join our ranks as members of the democratic family.

This year's NATO Summit in Washington was a resounding success. President Biden has held the alliance together through unprecedented challenges, and I believe NATO is as strong today as it has ever been.

We will not, we must not, fail the greatest test of global security in a generation.

As always, my team and I are here to help. If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to give us a call at (703) 256-3071.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress