President Nicusor Dan will participate on Monday in the B9 and Nordic Summit, which will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, this being his first foreign trip as head of state.

According to the Presidential Administration, Nicusor Dan will reaffirm, within the B9 Summit in Vilnius, Romania’s commitment to strengthening NATO at all levels and the crucial role of the Alliance in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security.

The President will emphasise that Romania remains a responsible and active ally on the Eastern Flank, in the strategic area of the Black Sea, and will advocate for the continuation of the Allies’ multidimensional support for Ukraine, an approach that represents an investment in our own security. He will also show that Romania supports the vital importance of the transatlantic relationship, which remains the foundation of collective defence.

At the same time, the head of state will highlight the need to provide support to the Republic of Moldova, which is exposed to complex risks and threats.

The event will be attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives of NATO allies from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland).

The high-level meeting of the states of the Bucharest Format aims to prepare for the NATO Summit in The Hague, which will take place at the end of June and will represent an important moment for the consolidation of the North Atlantic Alliance and transatlantic unity. In this regard, the discussions in Vilnius will focus on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank, on increasing support for Ukraine, as well as on the need for European Allies to increase defence investments.

AGERPRES