WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement commemorating the 70th anniversary of NATO:

“The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has served as a pillar of American security since the end of World War II and as a beacon of freedom and democracy across the globe. In 70 years, it has defeated the threat of Communism, lifted Central and Eastern Europe from behind the Iron Curtain, fought international terrorism and defended the United States after September 11, stopped a genocide in the Balkans and liberated Kosovo, and consistently defended human rights far beyond the borders of Europe. Through hardships and obstacles, NATO has made America stronger and safer. As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ll continue working to strengthen this critical alliance.”

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