NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session opens in Vilnius

The spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has begun in Vilnius, Lithuania, bringing together lawmakers and officials to discuss key security priorities, including collective defence and continued support for Ukraine.

The session is being held at the Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament, and officially opened on Saturday. According to LRT, the agenda focuses not only on defence cooperation but also on broader strategic challenges facing the alliance.

Among the main topics are strengthening resilience to hybrid threats, protecting critical and strategic resources, increasing defence spending, and expanding investment in partnerships across strategically important regions. Discussions also cover the development of defence technologies and their integration into NATO’s operational planning.

Šarūnas Birutis, head of the Seimas delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, emphasised the significance of hosting the session in Vilnius. He said it underscores Lithuania’s role as an active and reliable member of the transatlantic community.

Birutis also noted that parliamentary diplomacy is taking place in a region where security concerns are not theoretical but have direct, practical importance.

The session has drawn approximately 300 parliamentarians from 32 NATO member states, along with around 80 representatives from partner countries and international organisations.

As part of the program, multiple committee meetings are being held. The session is expected to conclude with the adoption of a joint declaration outlining shared positions and commitments.

By Tamilla Hasanova