NATO parliamentary leaders meet in Istanbul on defense spending, investment

The NATO parliamentary summit opened in Istanbul on Monday, with alliance officials calling for stronger defense investment ahead of next week's NATO leaders' summit in Ankara.

The two-day summit brought together parliamentary speakers and delegation heads from NATO's 32 member states to discuss security issues. Opening the meeting, NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello stressed the critical role of national parliaments in supporting defense investment and implementing the alliance's security priorities.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska stated that the upcoming NATO heads of state and government summit, scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, will serve as a platform to demonstrate the alliance's collective "defense readiness and resolve."