B9 Summit in Vilnius sent a support signal to the Republic of Moldova
NATO member countries in the eastern and northern regions conveyed a strong message of support to the Republic of Moldova during the B9 Summit held in Vilnius on Monday. In a joint statement, the participants praised Moldova for its efforts to maintain stability and advance reforms on its European path. The countries at the summit also signed a memorandum committing to allocate at least 5% of their GDP to defense and to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that “Russia’s war of aggression continues, along with terrorist threats, creating the most dangerous security environment in decades.”
“We are facing the most significant security threat in decades. We must continue strengthening our defenses, which requires absolute readiness to engage at any time. This includes ensuring that our troops are well-prepared, trained, and provided with the necessary logistics, equipment, and ammunition.”
Mark Rutte reiterated the strong commitment of NATO member states to collective security, just before the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague later this month.
In a joint statement signed by the co-chairs of the Bucharest 9 (B9), the participating countries reaffirmed that Russia is “the most significant, long-term, and direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security.” They stated that the North Atlantic Alliance must be prepared “for all situations.”
The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, highlighted that all participants agreed on the need for a stronger transatlantic union and to support Ukraine together. In addition to increasing defense spending at the level of each NATO member state, the capacity to produce weapons must also be enhanced. Nicușor Dan expressed gratitude to partners for supporting the Republic of Moldova.
“From the perspective of Romania’s national interests, I want to emphasize our ongoing concern for the security of the entire Black Sea region, including the Republic of Moldova. I appreciate the continuous support provided to Moldova on its European path,” he said.
“We praise the Republic of Moldova for its efforts to maintain stability and promote reforms as part of its European journey. We will continue to strengthen our support for Chisinau and aim for more strategic, coherent, and effective partnerships, particularly with the European Union and our partners in the Indo-Pacific and South regions,” concluded the joint statement from the B9 co-chairs.
President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that there must be “a new level of pressure, new sanctions—not only from Europe”—if today’s discussions in Istanbul do not yield results. He urged for joint sanctions at the G7 level, including from the U.S. and “everyone in the world who desires peace.”
“Partners, we all share the same goal: to stop Russia’s war, achieve true peace, and ensure lasting security. We informed our partners about the situation on the front lines and discussed our operations within Russia, which have significantly weakened their military defense. Operation 'Spider Web' demonstrated the nature of modern warfare and highlighted the importance of keeping pace with technology.”
We remind you that the Summit of Eastern and Northern NATO member countries occurred prior to the NATO Summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 26-27. At this summit, member states are expected to decide on increasing defense spending by up to 5%.
The next summit of the Bucharest 9 format is set to take place in Romania in 2026.
