The meeting of the Bucharest Nine (B9) defence ministers in the Polish capital also focused on support for Ukraine, news outlets reported.
It was co-chaired by Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and his Romanian counterpart Angel Tîlvăr.
‘We stand united in strengthening security’: Polish defence minister
Poland’s Błaszczak told reporters that the talks had focused on “cooperation between NATO’s eastern-flank allies, the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania and building interoperability” between various national forces.
The Polish defence minister added that the discussions had "also centred around expansion of NATO forces, the alliance’s new deterrence and defence plans for the eastern flank, joint exercises and cooperation in supporting Ukraine.”
Błaszczak stated: “We stand united in strengthening security.”
He also said: “I greatly thank my colleagues for today's B9 talks. Together, we work to strengthen security. We can confirm we are stronger together.”
The Polish defence minister told reporters that meeting participants "approved a joint statement expressing their opposition to Russia’s attempts to revive its empire and reaffirming their unity when it comes to the security of NATO’s eastern flank.”
The joint statement “demonstrates our unity and solidarity” in “countering efforts to revive the Russian empire” and in “strengthening security on NATO’s eastern flank,” Błaszczak said.
Support for Ukraine
During Wednesday’s meeting, the B9 defence ministers also discussed international support for Ukraine’s war effort against the Russian invasion, including assistance from NATO and the European Union, according to officials.
The B9 countries have been at the forefront of this support, reporters were told.
Poland’s Błaszczak said: “Ukraine is the target of Russian aggression today. Joint action is key to combat neo-imperial threats.”
He added: “Fourteen months have passed since Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, which has destroyed the foundations of security in Europe. We must continue our support for Ukraine and help Kyiv win this war. We must give Ukraine security guarantees for the coming years.”
The B9 defence ministers also talked about NATO and EU support for the defensive capabilities of Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-and-Herzegovina, “countries vulnerable to Russia’s destabilising actions,” officials said.
Polish, Romanian defence ministers hold bilateral talks
On the sidelines of the meeting, Poland’s Błaszczak and Romania’s Tîlvăr held bilateral talks on defence cooperation between the two countries.
The Polish defence minister said that “Polish soldiers serve in Romania and Romanian soldiers serve in Poland” as part of NATO, while both Warsaw and Bucharest "are modernising their armies with very similar equipment” and “working together to strengthen security on NATO's eastern flank.”
Meanwhile, Tîlvăr said: “Romania and Poland have a practical relationship based on a strategic partnership. It is crucial that, in order to ensure the security of our citizens, we continue our dialogue in various formats.”
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who attended Wednesday’s meeting as a special guest of the B9 defence ministers, spoke about ways of “deterring threats to European security,” according to officials.
Bucharest Nine
The Bucharest Nine (B9) is a Polish-Romanian initiative launched in 2015 that aims to help exchange views and coordinate positions on the security of NATO’s eastern-flank countries.
It brings together Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, and Slovakia.
In February, US President Joe Biden told a summit of B9 leaders in Warsaw that Article 5 of the alliance's collective defence treaty "is a sacred commitment” and that America "will defend literally every inch of NATO."
Biden was speaking in the Polish capital ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
Wednesday was day 427 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl, wpolityce.pl