US president signs defense spending bill into law

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law the $768 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), funding the Defense Department for next year.

The act authorizes fiscal year 2022 appropriations principally for Defense Department programs and military construction, Energy Department national security programs, and intelligence programs, said the White House in a statement.

It "also specifies a military basic pay increase and other authorities relating to the U.S. Armed Forces; and other matters," it added.

The bill was passed by both houses of Congress earlier this month.

It supports an increase in military basic pay by 2.7%, authorizes $50 million for the purpose of aiding local educational agencies with military dependent students, and $10 million for local educational agencies, among other measures.

The act also includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, an increase from the budget request of $250 million –funding coming amid high tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

Over a year after the war over Nagorno-Karabakh, it also requires a report on the use of weapons in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and expresses the Sense of Congress that the parties to the conflict must adhere to their duties under international law.

In addition, the bill asks the US government to continue its military support to its partners in Iraq and Syria, including the YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terror group, ostensibly to fight Daesh/ISIS.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian branch.

Turkey has long objected to US support for the YPG/PKK for the purported purpose of fighting Daesh/ISIS, saying that using one terrorist group to fight another makes no sense.

The defense act also contains multiple provisions to address the strategic challenges posed by China, including $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative as well as a statement of congressional support for the defense of Taiwan.

It also requires the Defense Department to provide an annual report to Congress on military and security developments involving China.