Rasi Stresses Role of Parliaments in Defence Decision-making at Istanbul Summit

Istanbul, 29 June (TASR) - Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) reaffirmed Slovakia's clear transatlantic commitment on Monday at the NATO parliamentary summit in Istanbul, Turkey, the Parliament's communications department told TASR on Monday, adding that he emphasised the irreplaceable role of national parliaments in approving defence budgets. During meetings with partners from NATO member states, he discussed regional stability and reiterated that peaceful diplomacy remains a priority of Slovak foreign policy. The parliamentary leaders addressed transatlantic security, defence capacity-building, and the current security agenda ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara this July. "Our foreign and security policy is firmly anchored in the European Union and NATO. These two memberships form the foundation of our security and prosperity, and NATO remains the most important pillar of our defence, all the more so in today's unpredictable geopolitical environment," Rasi said in his speech, noting that it's necessary to create a stronger European pillar within the Alliance that will bolster our defence readiness. The Slovak House chair presented specific results of Slovakia's investments in modernising its own defence forces and strengthening its technical infrastructure. "Slovakia has recently been investing responsibly and significantly in its defence capabilities so that we are prepared for all scenarios. Thanks to these investments, our country has become one of the leading producers of ammunition within the entire Alliance in terms of its share of total GDP," he stated. In his speech, he also addressed the role of legislative bodies in advancing security policy. He emphasised that no political declarations can be effective without a democratic mandate from national parliaments. "Decisions on defence issues are not made solely at summits, but above all in our national parliaments, where legislation is drafted, budgets are approved, and government proposals are reviewed. No alliance decision becomes a reality until parliament gives it special financial and legislative form. It is precisely this democratic legitimacy that makes our commitments credible both to our citizens and to those who might wish to test our unity," he said. am/mcs