We will continue our efforts aimed at making NATO more efficient and stronger and we are ready to bring our contribution to the benefit of transatlantic security - the presidents of nine countries stated in declaration after the Bucharest Nine summit. Romania's President Klaus Iohannis stressed that Russia's activities in the region were a matter of concern and that NATO should step up its efforts. "That's why I've suggested in discussion with Joe Biden that the allied presence in Romania and in the south of the Eastern flank be increased" - said Poland's President Andrzej Duda.
Eastern European NATO states would like a bigger presence of allied military forces on the bloc's eastern flank, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday after a virtual summit that was also joined by U.S. President Joe Biden.
The summit of the Bucharest Nine, a group of countries on the eastern edge of NATO, was jointly hosted by Iohannis and Poland's President Andrzej Duda and was aimed at coordinating their security positions ahead of a full NATO summit in June.
"As allies on the Eastern flank, we need to continue consolidating deterrence and defence. We all recently witnessed the worrying military build-up by Russia in our close neighbourhood, in the Black Sea, in and around Ukraine," Iohannis said.
"This is why I have argued, including in discussions with President Biden, for an increase of allied military presence in Romania and ... the south of the Eastern flank."
Biden, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the presidents of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia joined the video conference.
"President Biden expressed his support for enhancing NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, as well as the importance of Allies increasing their resilience against harmful economic and political actions by our strategic competitors," the White House press office said in a statement.
Biden was also seeking closer cooperation with the nine states on challenges "including global health security, climate change, energy security, and global economic recovery".
Earlier this month, Washington said it could increase security help for Kyiv after Russia moved troops near its border with Ukraine's eastern Donbass region, where Ukrainian troops are in conflict with Moscow-backed separatists. Moscow announced the withdrawal of its forces on April 22.
Stoltenberg did not publicly address the call for a bigger presence in eastern Europe, but had said in his opening remarks that Biden's participation demonstrated "the U.S. commitment to rebuilding alliances and strengthening NATO"
President Andrzej Duda said that the United States were key safeguards of peace in the world and crucial guarantors of security for NATO members.
"Joe Biden's presence at the summit is a very important sign for me. It shows the Euro-Atlantic Alliance is still strong" - Duda said after the summit.
In response to Romania's President Klaus Iohannis warning against Russia's activity in the region, president Duda said: "That's why I've suggested in discussion with Joe Biden that the allied presence in Romania and in the south of the Eastern flank be increased".
He also stressed the doors to the NATO should always remain open for all wanting to join. "We must never close them" - Duda said.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: PAP/KPRP/Igor Smirnow