NATO PA President: increased defence spending crucial to preserve peace

LJUBLJANA – The NATO Parliamentary Assembly opened its annual session Friday with calls for strong measures to defend the Alliance’s eastern borders from hostile Russian actions; unwavering support for Ukraine; and backing for increased investment in transatlantic security.

“I want here to reiterate our Assembly’s full solidarity with all Allies on the Eastern flank,” Marcos Perestrello, President of the NATO PA, told a news conference.  “Russia bears full responsibility for these reckless actions. They must stop.” 

He backed NATO actions to bolster defences in the East but added: “We still need to do more to protect Allied territory and strengthening our deterrence and defence posture.”

Perestrello spoke to reporters as 245 lawmakers from across the Alliance and partners gathered for the session in Ljubljana. 

Their four days of talks are set to focus on strengthening NATO in line with decisions taken by Alliance leaders at a June summit in the Hague, including the commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defence and security-related investments by 2035.

Perestrello said Allied parliaments have a key role in ensuring the 32 Allied governments deliver on those commitments. Increasing defence spending is vital “not because we want war, but because we want to defend peace.”

He underlined the Assembly’s support for a stronger, more capable Europe within NATO, ensuring defence costs are shared more fairly among Allies. “This conversation is particularly urgent as we see our security environment deteriorate,” Perestrello cautioned.

The NATO PA session is expected to approve a series of policy recommendations for Allied governments, including robust measures to deter Russian threats; backing for the summit decision to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence requirements and a further 1.5% on defence and security investments; and unwavering support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to address the Assembly’s plenary session by video link from Kyiv on Monday. Other plenary speakers include NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob.

“The NATO Parliamentary Assembly fully supports efforts to secure a just and lasting peace ... that ensures a free sovereign and prosperous future for Ukraine,” Perestrello said.

“The best way to work towards that peaceful future is to support Ukraine today, so that it can defend itself, negotiate from a position of strength and boost its Armed Forces to deter future aggression.”

The Assembly marks its 70th anniversary this year, and Perestrello recalled its enduring role as the essential link between NATO and the parliaments and citizens of Allied nations. 

“Together we continue to foster transatlantic unity, promote our shared democratic values and work to make our Alliance even stronger at a time when it matters most,” he concluded.

Slovenia is hosting the Assembly for the second time since it joined NATO in 2004. Janez  Zakelj, Head of the Slovenian delegation, emphasised the importance of such meetings in developing common responses to the complex international security environment. 

“This event represents the largest international parliamentary forum ever held in Slovenia, enabling direct dialogue between legislative bodies,” he told the news conference. “Its purpose is to foster mutual understanding, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and build trust – elements that are crucial in times of global crises and heightened tensions.

The Assembly, though institutionally separate from NATO, serves as an essential link between NATO and the parliaments of the NATO nations. It provides greater transparency of NATO policies and fosters better understanding of the Alliance’s objectives and missions among legislators and citizens of the Alliance. Throughout 2025, the Assembly celebrates 70 years of parliamentary diplomacy.

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