The 71st Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) was held in Ljubljana from October 11 to 13, bringing together parliamentarians from NATO member and partner countries. Georgia was represented by a parliamentary delegation led by Nikoloz Samkharadze, alongside members Mariam Lashkhi and Levan Makhashvili.

Throughout the session, the Georgian delegation actively contributed to discussions by submitting several amendments to draft reports and resolutions under consideration by the Assembly’s Committees. These proposals focused on Georgia’s EU and NATO integration progress, domestic political developments, security threats in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, and broader foreign policy objectives.

The Georgian MPs emphasized the continued human rights violations and security concerns in the occupied territories and proposed specific language changes in the resolution outlining NATO’s strategic approach toward Russia. They also reaffirmed Georgia’s strong commitment to democratic values and its alignment with the NATO agenda.

A key outcome of the session was the approval of a resolution upgrading Georgia’s status in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from Associated Status to Partner for Comprehensive Security. This designation places Georgia alongside entities such as the European Parliament, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, and the Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria.

According to the Georgian delegation, this elevated status marks a significant step in strengthening Georgia’s role in parliamentary diplomacy and deepening cooperation with NATO and its partner institutions.

The session concluded with remarks from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who outlined the Alliance’s top priorities and the challenges facing the transatlantic security environment.