Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Romanian President Nicușor Dan met on Tuesday afternoon at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, the official residence of the Romanian head of state. On Wednesday, the two leaders will co-chair the Bucharest Nine summit, which will be attended by leaders of other NATO eastern flank countries. “The countries of our region should not only be recipients of technology, but also co-creators of NATO’s modern defense capabilities,” President Nawrocki said.
According to the Chancellery of the President of Poland, President Nawrocki is on a working visit to Romania. On Tuesday, he met with his Romanian counterpart Nicușor Dan. On Wednesday, he will participate in the Bucharest Nine (B9) Summit, which brings together NATO member states on the Alliance’s eastern flank. The agenda will focus primarily on security issues, including the continued strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, defense policy and deterrence against Russia, military spending, and infrastructure development.
“The greatest burden of responsibility for Europe’s defense”
President Nawrocki recalled the special role played by NATO’s eastern flank.
“Our countries bear the greatest burden of responsibility for defending Europe against Russia. Both Poland in the north and Romania in the south are fortresses on NATO’s eastern flank,”
the president said.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation between the Polish and Romanian defense industries.
“The countries of our region should not only be recipients of technology, but also co-creators of NATO’s modern defense capabilities,” he stressed. He also thanked Romania for purchasing Polish-made Warmate drones. Karol Nawrocki noted that nearly 2,000 Polish business entities operate in Romania.
“Poland will support all countries that free themselves from Russian influence”
He added that the talks also concerned support for Moldova in its European aspirations.
“As I always say as President of Poland at all international forums, Poland will support all countries in Europe, but also around the world, that are freeing themselves from the influence of the Russian Federation. This is our national strategy and also my personal perspective as President of Poland,”
he emphasized.
President Nawrocki’s visit to Romania will last until Thursday. On Wednesday, he will take part in the B9 summit, during which leaders of NATO eastern flank countries, together with partners from Scandinavia, will coordinate positions ahead of the July summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Ankara.