Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
NATO Headquarters in Brussels announced that the Secretary General of the Alliance will attend the Vilnius Summit with the Bucharest N9 and the Nordic countries on Monday, June 2, 2025. A statement said, "NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. He will participate in the Vilnius Summit with the Bucharest N9 and the Nordic countries, hosted by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
The Vilnius Summit, scheduled for June 2, 2025, will focus on strengthening NATO's eastern flank and enhancing support for Ukraine, with the participation of the Bucharest N9 and the Nordic countries.
Summit Overview
This summit will bring together the leaders of the Bucharest N9 (B9) countries, which include Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, along with representatives from the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend.
Key Focus Areas
Security and Defense: The summit will primarily address the security and defense of NATO's eastern flank, particularly in light of ongoing tensions in the region and the war in Ukraine. Discussions are likely to focus on strengthening military cooperation and preparedness among member states.
Support for Ukraine: An important topic is continued support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. The summit aims to consolidate NATO Allies' commitments to provide military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
B9 Cooperation: The Bucharest Nine Initiative is a platform for political cooperation among Central European countries to enhance Euro-Atlantic security. The summit will strengthen this cooperation in response to the security threats posed by Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will participate in the summit and hold bilateral meetings during his visit.
This summit represents a crucial step in addressing regional security challenges and strengthening NATO's collective defense commitments in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.
The Presidential Office announced Latvia: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will attend the Vilnius Summit on Monday, June 2. Hosted by President Gitanas Nauseda at the Grand Dukes' Palace in Lithuania, the meeting will focus on strengthening security and defense on the Alliance's eastern flank and preparations for the NATO Summit scheduled for The Hague on June 24 and 25. The presidential office stated that "further support for Ukraine will be discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy."
The Bucharest Nine Initiative is a nine-nation political cooperation platform for strengthening Euro-Atlantic security. It was launched at the 2015 Bucharest Summit. It was developed in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.