Lithuania hosted representatives from the Bucharest Nine countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also took part in the meeting. The discussions, led by President Gitanas Nausėda, focused on strengthening the security and defense of NATO’s eastern flank and preparing for the NATO Summit in The Hague on 24–25 June. At the start of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a welcoming address.
“The Hague Summit will take place at a particularly critical time. It will be pivotal for NATO’s future and its core mission. Lithuania expects the summit to reinforce transatlantic unity, reaffirm the commitment to collective defense, and demonstrate the resolve to defend every inch of allied territory,” President Gitanas Nausėda underlined.
The President stressed that the summit has to send a clear message: NATO supports Ukraine and will continue to do so. Ukraine’s irreversible path towards NATO membership needs to be remain on the agenda, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has to be invited to the summit.
Gitanas Nausėda also called for a new, ambitious commitment to defense spending: an agreement to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2030 is needed—with at least 3.5% dedicated to core military capabilities and 1.5% to broader defense-related investments.
“With Russia rebuilding its military potential and possibly preparing for a new offensive, NATO must achieve this commitment by 2030. Lithuania is already on this path: this year, we will reach 4%, and in 2026, we will allocate 5.25% of GDP to defense. Lithuania has already reestablished its national heavy division and is actively developing infrastructure for the deployment of the German brigade, ensuring optimal host-nation conditions for allied forces,” the Lithuanian leader pointed out.
The President noted that the Hague Summit needs to ensure continued NATO support and commitment to Ukraine. “We strongly support the Alliance’s decision on Ukraine’s irreversible path to Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements and decide on own its future, free from outside interference,” the President underlined.
Gitanas Nausėda further emphasized the crucial role of the strategic partnership with the United States and robust transatlantic ties. “The United States’ capabilities and the security guarantees it provides cannot be replaced overnight. We must preserve U.S. commitment to NATO at all costs. At the same time, NATO-EU cooperation must be strengthened, and the EU’s defense priorities must align with NATO’s capabilities,” the Lithuanian Head of State pointed out.
The Vilnius Summit also adopted the joint chair’s statement.
The Bucharest Nine format, established in 2015 in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, brings together NATO’s eastern flank countries. The invitation of the Nordic countries and the Ukrainian leader to the Vilnius Summit aims to highlight the security of the Baltic Sea region and the challenges facing the North and Black Seas, underscoring that these regions are interconnected in the face of Russia’s threat and that coordinated action and support for Ukraine are essential.
