The common feature of the B9 countries is their location at the eastern flank of NATO but also the uniting aspect of these countries is their common understanding of threats, orientation towards the US, readiness to invest more in defense and to substitute outdated Soviet weapons with weapons and equipment produced by the US.

Some of the B9 countries strive to increase their military budget to the level that will

extend 2,5% of GDP. For another part even the benchmark of 2% of GDP is unreachable in a short-time perspective.

Cooperation with the like-minded B9 countries extends Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO and provides Kyiv with the additional leverages of influence on Brussels and Washington.

Poland and Romania make the attempts to demonstrate their leadership in CEE and the Black sea region. Cooperation with Ukraine can strengthen their leadership potential.