Nicușor Dan at B9 Summit: “A chance to reaffirm support for Moldova and Ukraine”
Leaders from 15 countries, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, gathered in Bucharest for the Bucharest Format 9 (B9) and Nordic Summit. The event is co-chaired by Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Polish leader Karol Nawrocki. This summit provides an opportunity to review the implementation of NATO commitments and reaffirm support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as highlighted by the Romanian head of state.
Crucial topics are being discussed, including the expansion of the defense industry and concrete support measures for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
The purpose of the B9 meeting is to unify leaders' vision for the future of the North Atlantic Alliance, as stated by Romanian President Nicușor Dan during the summit's opening at Cotroceni Palace. He emphasized that the B9 summit carries a clear objective: NATO must remain united, strong, and stable. In this context, he advocated for increased defense spending.
“We are close to Ukraine and the Black Sea, situated near NATO territory that is under threat. The purpose of the meeting is to align our visions for the future of NATO. Each of our countries prioritizes its own security while seeking to strengthen the alliance. That is why the meeting’s motto is ‘We offer more for transatlantic security.’ First, we need to increase defense spending, which must be transformed into capabilities. We also need to collaboratively develop a robust transatlantic industrial base. This is an opportunity to assess our progress in implementing the commitments made at the Hague summit and to reaffirm our support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Our support must be practical, not just declarative, as our security depends on their security,” the Romanian head of state noted.
Poland's President, Karol Nawrocki, stated that this summit is more important than ever, given that Russia is attempting to undermine both NATO cohesion and the resilience of democratic states in the region.
“When Poland and Romania launched the B9 format 11 years ago, some claimed we were sounding the alarm too strongly. However, we believed that imperial thinking had returned to Europe and that our region required support beyond mere words,” said the President of Poland.
NATO officials warn that any sign of weakening within the Alliance could invite aggression on the eastern flank. This warning comes in the context of U.S. President Donald Trump resuming his critical rhetoric towards transatlantic partners, coinciding with leaders in Bucharest, along with representatives from the U.S. State Department, working to outline a common defense strategy.
"NATO has disappointed me greatly. They were not there when we needed them. We don’t need NATO. If we had needed them, they simply wouldn’t have been there," said Donald Trump.
The Bucharest meeting aims to prepare for the major NATO Summit scheduled for this summer in Ankara. This is the fourth time Romania has hosted the B9 format, following the meetings held in 2015, 2021, and 2022.
