Nato nations need to sharpen their focus on threats posed by Iran to the Middle East and challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, Utku Cakirozer, an MP of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has stated in a report presented to the Nato Parliamentary Assembly.

The assembly held its annual session in Slovenian capital Ljubljana during October 10-13. Reports and resolutions prepared by committees were adopted.

On October 11, the assembly issued a press release on the reports and resolutions handled during the session.

Lawmakers from across the Nato Alliance gave parliamentary backing to allied leaders’ commitment to invest at least 5% of annual gross domestic product (GDP) on defence requirements and other defence- and security-related spending by 2035, the statement read.

In the release, a report on China presented by Belgian senator Viviane Teitelbaum was also quoted, while Cakirozer’s report was among the reports that were highlighted.

“Revisionist axis”

Cakirozer’s report, presented to the defence and security committee, examines how threats from Iran’s nuclear programme and Tehran’s support for terrorism and military cooperation with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as Iran’s close ties to North Korea and China, directly impact Euro-Atlantic security, the release said.

Cakirozer recommended a strong and united diplomatic response, writing: “Allies must prioritise efforts to counterbalance this revisionist axis, mitigating the disruptive impact of their collaboration and ensuring that they cannot further destabilise the global system.”

The full text of Cakirozer’s 28-page report entitled “Iran’s Threat to Regional and Euro-Atlantic Security” is available on the assembly’s website.

CHP veteran

The October 11 press release included a photo (above) from a session. The chairperson of the committee gathering on the left is Faik Oztrak, a veteran CHP MP who served as a deputy to the party’s former leader Kemal Kilicdaraoglu.

Oztrak currently serves as the treasurer of Nato’s parliamentary assembly.

Another CHP MP, from Mugla, Sureyya Ones Derici, serves as the vice chairperson of the committee on democracy and security while Istanbul MPs of the country’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), namely Tugba Isik Ercan and Oguz Ucuncu, serve as committee members.

Derici presented a draft special report entitled “Women, Peace and Security” to the committee.

Bipartisan unity

The photos of the Turkish delegation during the session were released by the official X account of the Turkish Delegation to the Nato Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA Turkiye/@natopa_TR) and by Cakirozer (@utkucakirozer).

A total of 18 MPs from all major political parties represented in Turkey’s parliament participate in the Nato assembly.

Photo: The Turkish delegation in Ljubljana (Credit: @TC_LubliyanaB)..