UK delegation attends NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Montreal

The assembly was closed by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who highlighted the need for western allies to support Ukraine. “After more than 1,000 days of failure, Putin should understand that his attempts at intimidation only strengthen Ukraine’s courage and resolve and strengthen the solidarity of Ukraine’s allies, like our NATO countries,” he said.

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, also addressed the plenary and reaffirmed the need for NATO to bolster its defences, saying “we face a more dangerous and uncertain world”.

The UK delegation was successful in several election bids for executive positions, with eight Members appointed to positions across the five main committees, including the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee.

Additionally, Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP, Deputy Leader of the UK delegation, was elected as Vice President of the Assembly.

The Leader of the UK delegation, Derek Twigg MP, said:

“The Annual Session was a fantastic first visit for me and the other new Members of the UK’s NATO PA delegation. I’m pleased with how well we engaged with other Member states, including the delegation from Ukraine, and am impressed with how UK Members made their presence felt, not least through their election to the various executive positions.”

The Assembly provided the delegation with the opportunity to attend several bilateral meetings, including with the Ukraine delegation and members of the Quad (France, Germany and the US). They also participated in the first meeting of the newly formed Arctic Working Group.

The Assembly's principal objective is to facilitate mutual understanding between parliamentarians from NATO countries and promote debate on key security challenges.

Over 270 legislators from 32 NATO member states, alongside around 100 members from 25 partner countries and parliamentary bodies, explored key topics including Ukraine; shared democratic values; future partnerships; and challenges around climate change and technology.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly's annual session offers the opportunity to discuss key topics on transatlantic defence and influence decisions within the Alliance. Members convene for a variety of meetings, notably in the Assembly’s five committees and the Plenary session. They engage with representatives of the host nation, NATO, and high-level experts.

Additionally, members discuss and adopt reports and resolutions, providing important policy recommendations. Although not binding, these reports and resolutions represent a collective view of parliamentarians from the 32 NATO member states.