Joint press conference following the Bucharest Nine (B9) and Nordic Allies Summit, 15 MAY 2026

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:10]and summit has concluded. It was a substantial discussion. Thank you Carol for co-chairing this meeting.

[00:00:22]We had ample participation here in Bucharest, 15 delegations. I welcome Marut Imocarist, NATO Secretary General, Secretary General.

[00:00:34]I welcome the presence of the American delegation with under secretary of state Dano.

[00:00:41]I welcome the Nordic delegation just like they were present in Villas.

[00:00:51]The B9 states the the northern states have common interests and a common threat Russia. So it is loyally logical that our positions would be compatible and expressed in meetings like today.

[00:01:13]We also saw the idea of this compatibility to become more formal at one point in a wider range.

[00:01:30]Following the summit, the parties have issued a statement that you are aware of.

[00:01:38]The declaration reads explicitly that Russia is a threat for our countries.

[00:01:48]We also speak of Ukraine naturally >> and support our country's continue to provide Ukraine military assistance in the current stage and support in the next stage.

[00:02:15]As we said several time these times these days the B9 is traditionally a preparation for the NATO summit which this year will take place in Ankara.

[00:02:30]The topic of the B9 summit was we offer more for transatlantic security >> because for Europe's security and the operation of NATO. The transatlantic relationship is extremely important.

[00:02:57]The decision decisions we have undertaken were to comply with our commitments to increase military spending, transform the money in capabilities that will create a better prepared alliance to deal with the with the threats and of course a balancing of the contributions within the all balancing between the European countries and the United States.

[00:03:38]The expression NATO 3.0 O sort of consolidates or compresses into one place this shared decision of the participating countries.

[00:03:56]We looked at where we are in terms of complying with the commitments we undertook in the H last year and we're making progress. We're all very serious about it. We're keeping our words and that's good for the alliance.

[00:04:13]For Romania, as you know, this year we have 2.5% of the GDP and 40% of that amount will go into new equipment.

[00:04:36]Besides the general matters concerning the all for our side, we spoke of Muldova, which is a state on the eastern flank in a process of hybrid war with Russia, therefore under threat. And it is important for them and for us and for Ukraine and for the allies to help the Republic of Moldova deal with this aggression.

[00:05:17]Naturally, there is a there exists a concern on the part of the Romanian citizens concern as regards the drones that cross our border every now and then.

[00:05:30]We've already discussed this with the secretary general and as you know within NATO there is a project Eastern Sentinel which is uh advancing now in and intended precisely to protect the Romanian citizens who are impacted one way or another by those drones.

[00:05:55]Once again, thank you everyone from the delegations that were with us here in Bucharest.

[00:06:02]It was a constructive meeting open and I am glad that at the end of the meeting our positions are very very similar.

[00:06:15]I am therefore confident that the NATO summit in Anchora will be a success and just like I said to the secretary general at the end we are at your disposal Mr. President please.

[00:06:33]>> First and foremost, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank very warmly and congratulate Nikos Adaman, the president of Romania, on organizing this year's summit of the Bucharest 9.

[00:06:45]This is indeed a very good time to discuss our common position to talk about our uh shared requirements before the summit in Ankara. This was a good time and we had a good constructive discussion uh among the Bucharest 9. I'm very glad ladies and gentlemen that we had with us NATO secretary general Mr. Mark Rutter and his presence gives um a practical dimension to these discussions uh due to the due to his function and his experience in his capacity as NATO secretary general. The format of Bucharest 9, ladies and gentlemen, since its inception, is described as a voice of the eastern flank. More than 10 years ago, in the light of neoimperial intentions of the Russian Federation, which we felt at that time, at a meeting in Bucharest, our states decided uh to bring together efforts aimed at increasing the security of NATO's eastern flank. and our meeting today I can say it with full conviction uh continues and strengthens this cooperation as you know ladies and gentlemen I mentioned that before I'm a very vocal advocate of expanding B9 to include Scandinavian countries which is why I'm particularly glad that uh we have leaders of the Nordic countries participating in today's summit Norway Sweden Finland and Iceland as well as Denmark this has broadened our perspective of security of the entire vertical line of responsibility along eastern flank of NATO from the north to the south from the Arctic through the Baltic Sea all the way down to the Black Sea.

[00:08:36]I am glad ladies and gentlemen that this plan is materializing and the participation of the representatives of the Nordic countries is and has been the best proof of that. Today as we know the Baltic Sea which lies in the main interest of the Scandinavian countries but it is also the interest of Poland is the theater of hybrid war. Uh it is exposed to uh Russian attacks. Uh hybrid war and attacks are experienced almost by all the countries which are part of B9. This was also the topic of our discussion today. Uh the main items of the declaration adopted today, this probably is of interest to you of this formally adopted declaration today touched on the one hand increased defense spending uh condemnation of Russia's aggressive behavior as well as building transatlantic relations. The B9 format has become, ladies and gentlemen, a symbol of adaptation of NATO to threats and challenges on the eastern flank. It is beyond doubt that over the last years, the North Atlantic Alliance has implemented uh many decisions or many opinions aimed at increasing the level of deterrenions in our region and for this we are thankful to Secretary General. We thank NATO for this sensitivity for taking into account also the matters concerning NATO's eastern flank. The Anchora summit in our opinion, in our joint opinion should demonstrate and I believe it will demonstrate uh the political unity and military strength of the alliance in uh addressing threats which are created by the Russian Federation. I hope that uh we will send a clear message from Ankara also uh concerning speeding up defense spending by all the allies. The commitments from the Hague is not the ceiling. It is a minimum which is necessary to keep order in our part of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, uh before our discussion, uh actually we saw it coming and during the discussion it was confirmed that the word Russia would emerge frequently throughout our discussions from many different perspectives and that was the case. We should not be surprised because Russia is and it will remain the most serious long-term and direct threat to the security of NATO countries. Russian aggression against Ukraine is not a separate conflict. It is a direct challenge for the entire Euroatlantic security order. And this is what we realize. The Kremlin aims at rebuilding spheres of influence. It also wants to undermine uh NATO cohesion every week or every month. It also wants to undermine the sovereignty and democracy of the countries in our region. And this is what our states are experiencing. That is why we need to feel in solidarity, secure, and we have to stand together.

[00:11:36]Despite the ongoing war against Ukraine, the Russian Federation still unfortunately retains its capacity to rebuild and to further develop its armed forces. We uh are deeply uh seeing that we are also observing with growing concern the expansion of military infrastructure along NATO's eastern flank, including on the territory of Bellarus. Given these circumstances, NATO's unity, the unity of the Bucharest 9 is not only the treaties, it is the moral duty of the countries of the free world. And these are the ideas, these are the foundations around which our discussion was taking place. I'm also delighted that all the participants of the B9 meeting and all the guests of the observers the Nordic countries share the view and this was also clear this is clear in our statements. All of them are aware how important transatlantic relations are. All three of us agree that there is no NATO without the United States of America. And this is reflected not only in the statistics but this is also reflected in the military potential in the financial potential the financial potential of the United States also uh the intelligence potential and this was clear almost in every statement during our discussion today that the North Atlantic alliance is built on strong robust transatlantic relations with strong partnership with the United States of America. Let me remind you that in Poland, just in Poland, we have got close to 10,000 American troops stationed and they also codeide about our security. At the same time, we should keep reminding that this partnership also requires, which was also an element of our discussions, it requires that nation states strengthen their potential, but also that the European Union strengthens its security potential. The United States also needs to have good and stable partners in the European Union and we um are committed to these uh obligations. I want to convince once again, not my colleagues, I'm not talking to the participants of the B9 group, but I want to convince those who might be watching myself in Poland today. I also want to convince those politicians who across Europe, all over Europe, um being far from logics in an irresponsible way are undermining uh alliances among the B9, the alliance between the EU and the United States, tearing apart transatlantic relations, disrupting the relations um between the European Union and the United States lies in the interest of the Russian Federation and all of us should be aware of This ladies and gentlemen, unity, responsibility and solidarity, the transatlantic solidarity remain the most important precondition of effective deterrence today and keeping security of the entire area and I'm very glad once again thank you to all the participants led by the host and by secretary general. I'm very glad that once again we have proved after the recent 3C initiative summit now in the Bucharest 9 format that the countries in our region are able to speak with one voice on fundamental issues those which are fundamental for European security. I believe this is the most important message from today's meeting on security matters. We are capable of speaking with one voice for the sake of the security of our nations and the entire European continent.

[00:15:19]Eastern flank of NATO is not only the periphery of the alliance today, it is its strategic center of responsibility.

[00:15:27]Thank you very much also for your trust to all the participants of today's B9 meeting and I'm glad to say that without any voice of objection we have decided to uh take that the next summit of B9 will take place in Poland in Warsaw and already today let me extend an invitation to all the participants of the B9 and I hope that B14 including Scandinavian countries also will come to Warso. Thank you.

[00:15:57]Thank you. Uh, thank you so much, President Dum, dear Nikoshure. Thank you for hosting this summit of B9 and Nordic allies. And thank you, President Navoski, dear Carol, for co-chairing, but also for Poland's role in founding this group. The B9 is firmly anchored in NATO and the transatlantic relationship.

[00:16:21]And today's meeting of strong and committed NATO allies from the Black Sea to the Baltic to the Arctic demonstrates our unity and determination to stand together and to defend against any threat from any direction. Russia remains indeed, as you said, the most significant and direct threat to NATO and it continues its ruthless war of aggression against Ukraine. We cannot let down our guard. We will always do what is necessary to defend every inch of NATO territory. We have significantly strengthened our returns and defense in the higher north and along the eastern flank. But we need to do more given the dangers we face. That means our military is having the resources, the forces and the capabilities they need. That means spending more and I welcome the huge leaps in defense investment by Poland, by Romania and the other allies here today. At the NATO summit in the Hake last year, allies agreed to commit 5% of GDP to defense. Cash is crucial, but this year's summit in Ankara will also be about combat ready capabilities and significantly scaling up our defense industries.

[00:17:43]NATO is and will always be a transatlantic alliance, but we need a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO through increased defense spending and defense production. And with European allies taking more responsibility for their own conventional defense backed by American power, our continued strong support for Ukraine will also be a priority at the Ankara summit. And today we discussed with President Fomimir Zalinski what more we can do to help in its fight for freedom.

[00:18:19]A strong Ukraine today and a strong Ukraine for the future is how Russian aggression can be stopped.

[00:18:27]The war isn't waiting for us. The time for action is now.

[00:18:33]Ukraine is backed by many many friends and I count on those friends to do more through the Pearl Initiative which is getting urgently needed American firepower to Ukraine and through other ways. We need to dig to dig deep and continue to provide the support Ukraine needs because Ukraine security is our security. As a proud European and a proud advocate of the transatlantic bond, I know that only through NATO we can keep 1 billion people safe on both sides of the Atlantic.

[00:19:10]President Don, dear Nikos, President Navroski, dear Carol, thank you both for your leadership, for your commitment to our shared security. We are all stronger and safer when we stand together in NATO. Thank you.

[00:19:25]>> Thank you.

[00:19:30]>> Questions please. Ramona Romeo Romania television. The my question is for both presidents and the general secretary. In the final statement of the summit, you speak about the decision to build NATO 3.0 uh oh by promoting a stronger more powerful Europe. Can you explain concretely what does it mean from the perspective of transatlantic relationship is an acknowledgment of the fact that the United States won't involve any longer in the security of Europe and how can NATO remain so powerful in such conditions especially that there are states that are quite far away from that 5% taken in hake 3.0 means a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO. And a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO means with the United States, both nuclear but also conventional, but the Europeans taking more responsibility for their own uh conventional defense. We're seeing it here today. I mean, I think still think that one of the biggest foreign policy successes of President Trump has been the summit in the Hake. At that summit, we concluded that all nations in NATO, all allies are at that famous 2% we agreed in Wales in 2014. And many of them were not on 2% at the beginning of last year. They all were there when we had the summit. And then we agreed to over the coming years move to 5% defense spending because we need to do this. It equalizes our spending with the US. But it is particularly necessary to make sure we in Europe and in the US and in Canada defend ourselves against any adversary. And what we are seeing here today is countries going beyond 5%.

[00:21:21]Countries even moving to that 5% before 2035. So I was really encouraged but we have to be honest sometimes in NATO we have our discussions and since a couple of months of course uh we know that there was some disappointment in the United States when it came to the reaction of some allies regarding Iran and the war against Iran by the US and Israel. I would say that clearly uh allies have heard the message. They've heard the message. Uh and that is on two fronts. U first of all when it comes to uh living up to all the commitments, previous commitments, bilateral commitments to basing requests, we are seeing massively all over NATO in Europe that countries are doing what they promised before in these bilateral agreements. And and evidence is here in Romania. I mean when I landed here yesterday, I could see the refueling aircraft here at Bucharest airport uh from the United States which is clearly a sign that also Romania is doing its part in terms of living up to those commitments. And then when it comes to the straight of horm next phase uh what we are now seeing is the American initiative the British French initiative they are all of course very much in line with each other making sure that for that next phase uh we have what is needed to do the demining to make sure that the strait stays open. We heard today the Italians sending an extra two u um demining um mine hunter ships to close to the not yet in the straight of moose obviously not now but at least close to theater so that they can be active there when necessary and this is following on many initiatives the checks with radar the Germans Lithuanians the Dutch the Belgians we have seen the French and others and yesterday some clear commitments coming out of this French British meeting with 40 countries participating. So my message to the United States is the Europeans hear the message, they are following up. Uh we are really working together on this.

[00:23:28]First of all, in answering your question, I want to stress that from the perspective of the eastern flank of NATO of the entire central Europe and Eastern Europe. This is not a time uh for changing a certain strategy, strategy of managing security architecture in Europe and dreams sometimes empty ideas to create an alternative to NATO. For sure this is not uh the idea behind today's summit. It is not the idea behind our strategic actions. Just as Mr. Secretary General has said, what we need is to have a strong Europe in the North Atlantic alliance. And what does that mean? First of all, first of all, it means that the countries which are part of NATO, no matter uh where they lie, should be coming close to fulfilling allied commitments.

[00:24:22]in terms of allocating funds to develop uh uh the military power and armed forces. This is number one and this is the message from the Hague which we also upkeep during the meeting of the B9 and for sure this is going to be the point of reference for Anchora summit as well.

[00:24:39]So we are building a responsible and strong Europe uh consisting of nation states. European Union is not one single organism and those nation states are also taking responsibility for their own security. This is This is just showing a way that we would like to follow. We are not looking for any alternative for the strongest alliance in the world history in the history of the 20th and 21st century.

[00:25:03]This is not seeking an alternative for NATO which is uh funded on strong and robust foundations with the United States and all of us want to take care of these relations because we know that these relations are of fundamental importance for our security and we know that the United States for many years um has been living up to its commitments visav NATO and visav our countries. So this is a call and I'm looking up to Secretary General. I'm looking up to the Romanian president. This is a call to understand the situation, security situation in our region. Uh we should understand that there is a need to spend adequate funds uh to increase defense spending. In Poland, we are close to 5% of GDP which we spend on defense uh on the military. So we have the feeling that we are meeting our commitments.

[00:25:52]Many countries from the B9 group are uh doing similar uh taking similar steps and we hope that all the countries of the European Union also feel the threat which is so close to us >> to add something about NATO 3.0.

[00:26:15]NATO was established during the Cold War when Russia was a threat to the European continent.

[00:26:27]After 1990, it seems that Russia was no longer that threat. So NATO tried to redefine itself.

[00:26:38]Now on the other on the other on one hand we have sort of returned to that threat that used to exist originally.

[00:26:46]So we are again becoming a alliance for the defense of our territory.

[00:26:51]But on the other hand the matter is raised very clearly and directly of equalizing contributions.

[00:27:04]The fact that the United States and Europe will contribute equitably will not mean that each defends the other.

[00:27:18]These are protocols and methods and scenarios that have been built over years and years. These things are not something that will change from one day to the next. NATO 3.0 O simply means that based on the same protocols that we of course are updating the allies contribution is has to be proportional Europeans and have understood this there is a visible progress since he and the process will continue we are already all of us in NATO 3.0 So, and uh the obligation of 3.5 plus 1.5 is applies until 2035. Sora, we're on the right track. Hello from Europe, Romania.

[00:28:04]A question for President Navski and President D and Secretary General Rut.

[00:28:10]Starting from a statement made by Dimitri Pescov in the past years about the beginnings of some negotiation for anists in Ukraine conditioned on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops and military from the Russian area and he means by that them retry retiring or redrawing to the current front line. And given the presence of President Zaninski here today, what is the formula that NATO support will embrace to continue supporting Ukraine in the coming period? What is the perspective of the states in on the eastern flank and NATO in regards to this maximal demand?

[00:29:00]uh during the discussions we had no doubts whatsoever that the strategic goal of all the B9 countries and as a matter of fact that the goal of NATO is to support Ukraine which of course is not formally part of NATO but today its symbolic presence the symbolic presence of President Zalinski at the B9 meeting together with the Scandinavian countries is demonstrating that there is no doubt whatsoever that uh the B9 group and individual member states and NATO So as a whole u are looking at the war in Ukraine. There is the uh natural um perpetrator of that war the Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. So we've got the doer and the victim of that war Ukraine uh which has received support from the beginning from 2022. On the one hand, this is a military support, a financial support, but also humanitarian support for the refugees from Ukraine. Um, about 1 million of them live in my country in Poland. So, the declaration of the B9 is obvious. Their strategic goal is to support Ukraine um having in mind the fact that Ukraine is not formally part of the North Atlantic alliance and that peace lies in the interest of all the countries in Europe and we hope that we will see a long-term and just peace uh which will define clearly the role of who started the conflict and who is the victim.

[00:30:37]I completely agree with what the Polish president is saying. I mean, in the end, it was um Putin starting this war in 2014 and then the full-scale invasion in February 2022. It has been the American president who broke the deadlock with President Putin in February last year.

[00:30:52]And I think that was extremely important starting to engage with the Russians. Is there a way out of this conflict? In the meantime, we have to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight as strong as possible. that includes essential US support still flowing into Ukraine, paid for by European allies and all the other support Europeans and the US are providing. Uh when it comes eventually to a moment where a deal can be struck, uh I mean Putin has to play ball and at the moment he is not he has to be willing to play ball to to engage really in in peace negotiations and again I commend the US efforts to to get that done. Um and and if that moment comes, obviously it is up to the Ukrainian government to decide uh on what they want to do in terms of a compromise and what it would be for us here. It is important that we make sure that post a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire, preferably of course a full peace deal.

[00:31:50]Uh that the the the Russians will never ever try to attack again. And that is why this concept of security guarantees are so crucial which we agreed in Paris under the leadership of President Mron early January with US and and allies from all over Europe and Canada in the room. So basically we have that now hammered out 90 to 95%. And that is crucial so that Russians know if there is a deal or a long-term ceasefire they can never try to do this again because the reaction will be devastating. That's crucial. Uh but at the moment I must say um the ball is clearly in Putin's court.

[00:32:25]He has to play ball. He is not doing that yet. Let's see what happens. And the and the Ukrainians in the meantime are maintaining the fight uh doing well on the front line. Uh but obviously they did not ask for this. Uh and many people have been killed because of Putin uh in in Ukraine.

[00:32:46]>> Uh to add something too. Every time a politician makes a statement, even if the statement is theoretically directly out directed outwards, it in fact addresses their voters.

[00:33:02]Russia is not in the for most fortunate situation today.

[00:33:07]So it is logical that the Russian leadership say we'll have almost one Ukraine is almost defeated. Just a few more days and we'll end up with a peace accord.

[00:33:19]This is the way you should read what Putin said. Well, what Pesco said.

[00:33:29]Beyond that, I don't have a lot to add.

[00:33:33]Each of the alleged countries is determined to continue supporting Ukraine as a gesture of fairness in compliance with international relations but also in support of its own security and NATO security. This kind of support is now military assistance right afterwards after either peace or ceasefire it will be guarantees of security.

[00:34:13]uh television republic. I would like to ask uh whether you talked about the possible increase of American presence uh along eastern flank. I'm of course uh asking in the context of the information that some American troops will be withdrawn from Germany. You had representative of the American administration at the B9 summit. I'd like to ask you presidents whether you raise this topic and what other countries of the region are thinking about it. And a question to secretary general.

[00:34:40]Is there a possibility that these troops, American troops are relocated to Poland instead of withdrawing them from Europe? Would you support such an idea?

[00:34:52]>> Technical question. I mean, when you look at the US presence in Europe, it is still vast and massive. uh and there is a clear commitment with the United States to stay involved in the conventional uh defense of also the European part of NATO. Let's not forget that NATO is there not only to defend Europe but as indeed the Norwegian foreign minister said today the defense of the US mainland starts in Norway. And why does it start in Norway? because uh this very uh consequential port with the big huge nuclear submarines with nuclear warheads on the Russian sides are just over the border with Norway. Uh and we have to collectively to make sure that they don't pose a threat to the United States. So we are in this because all of us need to be secure. 1 billion people on both sides of the Atlantic. Um we know that we are investing now more in Europe. We have always known that the United States over time has to pivot more towards Asia. What we have to make sure of and the US agrees on this, the Europeans agree on this that whilst we are doing this, the overall level of deterrence and defense stays strong.

[00:35:57]European stepping up, the US overtime step by step being able to pivot more towards other uh priorities which are also our priorities because we have every interest in a safe Indo Pacific.

[00:36:08]We work closely together with the inner Pacific partners and of course we have every interest in Iran having a degraded massively degraded nuclear capability and long-range missile capability. So we are all in this all together. Uh and um uh obviously it is a sovereign decision of the United States where they will bring their troops, how they will do that, but we do this in close consultation.

[00:36:36]>> During the official discussion, this topic was not raised. But my position uh is that our our allies also secretary general um all of them know my position.

[00:36:48]I said it yesterday during the press conference yesterday. If President Donald Trump decides to relocate American troops from Germany, Poland of course is ready and I think it lies in the interest of the entire Europe also in the interest of NATO that American troops who are co-gar of European security remain. If such a decision um is taken concerning troops in Germany, then Poland, but also other countries on the eastern flank of NATO, I'm sure we are ready to host those troops. But this topic was not formally raised during our discussion today, Polish Radio.

[00:37:45]I'm confirming it. We haven't discussed this at today's meeting and then we are taking very seriously and NATO and article 5.

[00:38:03]So there is no not under discussion when we think about a threat against one of our countries we don't look at it individually concerning only that country we are looking at it this area of Europe our common interest is that the American military presence in Europe should be significant this is the most important Think of course at the individual level each and every of the European countries or at least most of them want to have an individ individual American presence but you won't see among the European allies negotiations the non-principal um discussions how to share the American troops on the European territory.

[00:39:07]Uh I was thinking uh how to make you laugh. Uh so I I managed to do that.

[00:39:13]Thank you so much. Mr. President, I will ask my question mainly to the president of Poland.

[00:39:19]Uh we have uh in Poland sometimes not enough opportunities to discuss with Mr. President. First of all, I would like to ask you about what has happened today in the marriaging of the summit. you met President Vladimir Zalinski.

[00:39:31]Uh what did you talk about? Could you reveal it to us? Uh uh can we expect a return visit um of yours to KF? And let me also touch upon the transatlantic relations you uh have been talking a lot about it today. So let me also raise a domestic uh issue. Uh Mr. President, do you think that the fact that the former justice minister is bingo is in the United States of America right now, may it have any negative impact on the relations which we're saying are very good indeed. There are some suggestions also from the official centers that um the presidential administration Polish administration was asked if it was involved in uh facilitating uh Jabra to travel to the United States. Uh yes, let me start from the back. Maybe this is a problem that we should not uh involve our foreign guests. But this is a fear that might be familiar to presidents of other countries as well. When we are talking about really important issues, we are discussing security of the entire eastern flank of NATO. We are discussing the security of NATO as a whole. when we are discussing in the forum of the book 9 when we are building transatlantic relations and relations with the United States of America based on very important things which um I talked with President Trump about not decreasing the number of American troops in the US and the pres and President Trump has lived up to this uh um Poland should be part of G20. I also discussed it with President Trump and President Trump who is also uh looking at his commitments.

[00:41:09]He is supporting Poland, the entire central and eastern Europe in this respect. He has also lived up to this commitment. Uh he also um released Andre Pabot from the Belucian prison. But when things of fundamental importance are happening, fundamental for our security, for Polish men and women and for our region, other people are looking at visa issued for a private citizen who left uh because he filled out a form and then he found himself in the United States of America. I deeply respect you, madam, and I also respect your question. But I believe that this um matter refers to private life. actually uh it was all about filling out a visa form by a former justice minister of Poland. I cannot imagine that this could have any impact on PolishAmerican relations because both myself and also President Donald Trump are serious leaders of our countries and we know what is important important are military issues issues concerning security G20 group 300 years of the transatlantic uh relations between Poland and the United States concerning values not a visa and the um travel of a person who could not expect uh to have a just trial in Poland. So, let me leave it actually to the minister himself. It is not going to have any impact on PolishAmerican relations. I hope that nobody in Poland is considering to introduce this topic to the official relations between Poland and the United States. It would not be serious. It would be irresponsible.

[00:42:46]And with President Zalinski, we talked about issues which we had touched upon before during the meeting in the plenary session. Indeed, President Zalinski said that he invites me to come to Kief to Ukraine maybe next year. We also discussed um the conference, rebuilding conference, reconstruction conference which will take place in June in Poland.

[00:43:12]Uh we talked about our potential meeting. So actually we stabilized the cycle of conversations that we had at the plenary session the meeting given the situation of Mr. President Zalinski because he is president of a country in a state of war that this meeting took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere in the atmosphere of a dialogue.

[00:43:34]America.

[00:43:36]I have a question u for all the participants but mostly for uh secretary general rut and polish president because you talked uh recently with President Trump and I wanted to ask you if you see the risk that uh President Trump um starts to think about allies in a different way uh in terms of the countries who are doing more who are helping the US who are more friendly to the US and uh if there is a risk of fragmentation in terms inside NATO uh on from this perspective and what would this approach mean for the countries on the eastern flank? Thank you.

[00:44:16]>> As I said after I had met the president a couple of weeks ago in the white house there is a disappointment and uh the disappointment had to do with two things. one of us. One is that there was a general feeling uh that not all the commitments when it comes to uh use of bases in Europe had been uh fully um implemented and fully acted upon. And I was able I think to address that fact and showing that massively in Europe these bilateral agreements are being honored and I just mentioned the the example of Bucharest airport and uh the refueling aircraft from the US which is very much visible there. But there is also the other issue in this next phase of Hormus. How can allies, how can friends in Nate from NATO countries but also in in the Pacific, how can they help? And um um and this is about prepositioning making sure that you are there when the moment comes to be helpful to do that and this is now exactly what is happening. So that's why I'm saying both on the basis basis using the bases but also when it comes uh to uh prepositioning these assets including as I mentioned um mine hunters other key capabilities like radar uh divers etc. What we are seeing is that it is done and that the allies in NATO the the friends United States have heard the message. uh so I think that is important and then the the overall picture is positive because uh when you look at the summits in Hake and what is happening now we are clearly now uh working hard to to get to the 5% as I said some countries are speeding up even beyond the 5% and speeding up in terms of getting there before 2035 let me again mention Germany which is second biggest ally and the biggest ally in Europe spending over 150 billion twice as much as in 2021 by 2029 uh as much as the French and the Brits combined in 2029.

[00:46:14]Then the US sees this. The US recognize this and this makes NATO stronger.

[00:46:18]Benadang comes to the the countries who are directly basically facing our adversaries because they are uh yeah let's say on the front line or at the border or whatever name you give it.

[00:46:34]Here you need to do three things. One, this overall spending and ramping up the spending is crucial of course for all of us but also for the countries who have that geographic position. Second, what we need to do all 32 allies is to make sure we produce more and not only produce more, we also have to innovate.

[00:46:53]And here clearly it is Ukraine uh giving us a lot of insights of in modern warfare particularly when it comes to drones and anti- drone technology and when you look at countries like Romania and others but also Poland and the Baltic countries we all are faced with this drone threat and therefore we need also the the counter drone technology.

[00:47:14]Ukraine can play a big role here. We need cost- effective solutions for threats from the sky. We cannot continue taking out $20,000 costing drones with three or four million costing missiles.

[00:47:26]Here, Ukraine can help again. So money making making sure that the money is is translated into concrete capabilities through our defense industrial base and then finally getting ourselves organized and that's exactly what we have been doing over the past year with first Baltic sentry then with eastern sentry and now with Arctic sentry making sure that uh when it comes to all these areas within NATO from the high north to the Black Sea in the Baltic Sea in the Arctic uh that we bring all our assets together. Therefore exactly uh being able to define the gaps which are still there then filling those gaps. This is what are happening all over NATO territory. Uh so I would say on all of this the US is very supportive and very positive. But I started with a disappointment and I think uh what my message would be to all our friends is that that message has been heard and acted upon.

[00:48:22]Secretary >> Secretary General Mark has just clarified the issue. Let me just add one sentence answering your question.

[00:48:32]Responsibility for building these relations lies with both parties. So we are aware how great a contribution the United States is making uh to the functioning of NATO. We have heard it repeatedly also during the this press conference. We have heard how important role these relations play for individual countries also European leaders.

[00:48:54]European politicians should be aware when they speak in public about be it the president of the United States himself or their relations with the United States. Such relations are being built in responsibility between the two parties. And this refers also to the Middle East conflict to certain premature declarations made by many leaders. So I think this is a lesson for the future for all of us to be aware that the relations with such a serious partner as the United States uh should be built with responsibility also for the words uh that are being said and I hope that this will take us to building a strong North Atlantic alliance.

[00:49:50]Uh, >> good evening. I hope you still have patience for one more question for all three of you.

[00:49:58]The NATO 3.0 is the rising start of the start of the day. While President Trump when departing for China said once again the US did not need NATO anymore.

[00:50:09]The B9 statement is the first official summit document that contains the 3.0 concept with a decrease of the conventional role of the US in Europe and an increase of European role. Will this continue and exist in the Anchora summit declaration?

[00:50:35]Yes, it's a short answer. Uh because um this is the logical next step. So we had a summit in the H. We had to address this urgent issue of the spending and the fact that uh for years not only was there no equality between what the US is spending on defense and overall Europe was doing. Um but there was also this issue that we had to spend more because of the capabilities we need and there is a very serious process in NATO which came to a conclusion last June at the level of defense ministers. what are the capabilities we need to defend ourselves 360° against any adversary. Of course, Russia being a particular uh uh adversary and any threat from any direction. Um and that's basically the ballpark figure of being able to defend ourselves is this famous 3.5%. It was somewhere between 3.4 3.7 ballpark 3.5 plus the defense related spending bring us to the 5%. That was the summit inh NATO 3.0 Zero is the logical next step of a European part of NATO um taking more and more care and responsibility for its own conventional defense and therefore making it possible for the by far biggest ally we have the United States which has to take care of many the multiple theaters to pivot more for example towards Asia overtime because overall we want of course collectively with US to prevent uh a gap in our deterrence and defense to emerge. So whilst Europe is stepping up, the US can over time step by step uh pivot more towards other uh priorities which are also by the way our priorities but of course the US having a specific uh role there and that's exactly what is happening and I think we can thank President Trump for the fact that all of the alliance is on 2% that we agreed in the H on 5%. being very clear now when it comes to Iran. Uh again my message is the Europeans heard you. They are following up the basis when it comes to prepositioning now for the next phase trade of form. Uh so I'm cautiously optimistic when it comes to the Ankara summit.

[00:52:44]>> Uh let me join uh in thanking um the United States. Um, as the pre uh secretary general of NATO said, I'm sure that together with President Trump, both in bilateral relations and concerning the entire NATO, we will build a strong solidarity- based alliance. This is our experience in Europe, in Poland. Sorry.

[00:53:04]Poland can always count on its American allies. Polish people, Polish people are also meeting their commitments. The United States and this has been proven by President Trump. uh in the time of my presidency as president of Poland is also living up to his allied commitments. So this makes me calm about the future of NATO and the upcoming summit in Ankara where solidarity and I deeply believe will be heard.

[00:53:32]I'm supposed to >> like I said, >> we are in a process of rebalancing the security contributions of each partner in any process.

[00:53:51]How should I put this?

[00:53:53]There will be small instabilities along the way but that doesn't mean that the process itself is impacted especially not in the long term. NATO 3.0 O means commit complying with commitments using money using money to transform into capabilities and the possibility which I failed to mention in the beginning to use these capacities in real time because in Europe and the US, Canada and other non-European NATO countries if you have the money but don't have the capabilities to respond fund.

[00:54:33]You're just like many other people have already said, all you do is increase the price for the same capabilities that you had before.

[00:54:47]>> Cannot hear no microphone. Sorry.

[00:54:51]>> Thank you.

[00:54:51]>> Thank you very much.

[00:54:52]>> Thank you so much.

[00:54:56]>> Thank you.