US President signs $768 billion defense policy bill
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The bill authorizes about 5% more military spending than last year and a 2.7% increase in pay for the troops and more purchases in aircraft and Navy ships.
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On Monday, US President Joe Biden signed the $768 billion defense spending bill for 2022.
US President Joe Biden signed the $768 billion defense spending bill for 2022 that includes $300 million in security assistance for Ukraine and $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, according to the White House.
In a press release, the White House disclosed, "On Monday, December 27, 2021, the President signed into law: S. 1605, the 'National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA] for Fiscal Year 2022,' which authorizes fiscal year 2022 appropriations principally for Department of Defense programs and military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, and intelligence programs."
The NDAA does not involve sanctions against Russian sovereign debt or against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline despite lawmakers' attempts to add them to the legislation amid growing tensions with Moscow over the alleged buildup of forces near Ukraine.
The legislation, however, requires reporting every two years on alleged Russian operations and campaigns that target US military alliances.
It authorizes about 5% more military spending than last year - a compromise after lengthy negotiations between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, which were delayed due to disputes over China and Russia policy.
It also includes a 2.7% increase in pay for the troops and more purchases in aircraft and Navy ships, in addition to strategies for dealing with geopolitical threats, especially Russia and China.
US Senate passes $768 billion defense spending bill
On December 15, the US Senate passed the final version of the $768 billion defense spending bill for 2022, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk for signature.
The budget includes $7.1 billion for operations in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as initiatives to address Chinese challenges such as threats to supply chains for critical defense systems.
The defense spending bill also comprises $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative and $300 million for Ukraine's "security assistance".
The bill would also require biannual reporting on alleged Russian influence operations and campaigns aimed at US military alliances.
