B9 Summit Endorses NATO 3.0 Strategy in Bucharest

Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Polish President Karol Nawrocki co-chaired the 11th Bucharest Nine (B9) and Nordic Countries Summit on May 13, 2026, at the Cotroceni Palace. The summit, themed "Delivering More for Transatlantic Security," focused on coordinating positions for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. For the first time, the B9 format expanded to include Nordic partners—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—to create a security zone stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea.

Leaders endorsed a "NATO 3.0" strategy, which emphasizes a stronger European military capability to allow the United States to pivot toward other strategic theaters. This strategy includes a commitment to scale up collective defense investments toward a 5% GDP target by 2035. In a joint declaration, the participants identified Russia as the most significant long-term and direct threat to security, though the Government of Hungary signaled a constructive abstention from the final wording.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended as a special guest, seeking additional defense resources and support for Ukraine's European integration. During bilateral meetings, Zelenskyy and Dan announced that a defense agreement focused on drone and anti-drone technology would be finalized shortly. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte advocated for a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO, highlighting the PURL initiative to provide American military equipment to Ukraine.