The role of the Bucharest Nine (B9) in the security and defense system of the Republic of Poland in the aftermath of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine

Abstract

The changes that took place in the global security system as a result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the unleashed war in Eastern Ukraine, forced the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to take steps to ensure their security. The Bucharest Nine (B9), initiated in 2014 by the presidents of Poland and Romania, officially inaugurated in 2015, became an expression of concern for the security of the region’s states in the face of the imperial policy of the Russian Federation. B9, a subregional organization operating within NATO, has become a multidimensional plane for cooperation between countries in Central and Eastern Europe in the area of security and defense. Its main goals include strengthening transatlan - tic ties based on allied guarantees under Art. 5 of the Washington Treaty, building a strong Alliance led by the United States, developing bilateral relations between member states, strengthening NATO’s defense capabilities, or developing strategic cooperation between the Alliance and the EU. The goal of B9 is also to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to support it in its efforts to become a member of the transatlantic structures. Poland’s participation in the Bucharest Nine project significantly strengthens its ability to influence the NATO, including in the context of increasing the level of defense and deterrence on the eastern flank of the Alliance. A community of interests and reaching consensus on key issues will determine the effectiveness of B9 in the future.