Senators urge protections for Hawaii under North Atlantic Treaty amid rising Indo-Pacific threats

Government
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Senator Mazie K. Hirono | U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), alongside a bipartisan group of eleven other senators, have called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address Hawaii’s exclusion from the North Atlantic Treaty as military threats in the Indo-Pacific region increase.

In their letter to Secretary Blinken, the senators expressed concerns about Hawaii's omission under Article 6 of the Treaty. This exclusion means that an armed attack on Hawaii would not be considered an attack on all NATO countries, thereby not necessitating collective self-defense.

“When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the Senate ratify the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, it was with the understanding that overseas territories would not be covered by Article 6,” the senators wrote. “At the time, Hawai‘i was a U.S. territory and the drafters of the Treaty were reluctant to include all territories of the Treaty Parties under the NATO security umbrella. However, the world has changed significantly since 1949.”

The letter emphasized that Hawaii's status as a U.S. state and its strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region have increased significantly since then. The senators urged for diplomatic measures to address this issue, including potentially amending the North Atlantic Treaty.

“Allies and adversaries alike must understand now, before potential hostilities erupt, that an attack against Hawai‘i will be seen as an attack on NATO,” they continued. “Silence on whether NATO allies would come to the defense of Hawai‘i undermines our strategy of deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”

In addition to Senators Hirono, Schatz, and Schmitt, signatories included Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Tim Scott (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).

The full text of their letter highlighted historical context and current geopolitical dynamics affecting Hawaii’s security status under NATO provisions. It also pointed out precedents for amending treaty language or issuing clarifying statements by bodies such as the North Atlantic Council.

The senators requested responses from Secretary Blinken by September 1 regarding efforts to raise this issue with NATO allies and potential courses of action both short-term and long-term.

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