NATO’s Eastern Flank, Bucharest 9, Summit held in Riga for the first time

On 11 June this year, Riga will for the first time host NATO's Eastern Flank Summit, also known as the Bucharest Nine (B9) format. Established in 2015, the B9 is a forum for discussions between representatives of Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The Riga Summit will take place in the year of NATO's jubilee, marking the 75^th anniversary of NATO's founding and the 20^th anniversary of Latvia's NATO membership.

The objective of NATO's Eastern flank summits is to align national positions on matters of significance to the security and defence of the Alliance’s Eastern flank in advance of NATO's summits.

Media programme:

10:30 – Doorstep statements (POOL1)

The presidents of Latvia, Romania, and Poland will give the statements first followed by the participants of the B9 Summit upon the order of arrival.

11:00 – The Official Welcome and Handshake by the Presidents of Latvia, Romania and Poland.

11:20 – Family photo

11:30 – Opening Session

Opening remarks by:

• H.E. President of the Republic of Latvia Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs,
• H.E. President of Romania Mr Klaus Werner Iohannis,
• H.E. President of the Republic of Poland Mr Andrzej Duda,
• H.E. NATO Secretary General Mr Jens Stoltenberg.

16;00 – Press conference

Participants at the press conference:

• H.E. President of the Republic of Latvia Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs,
• H.E. President of Romania Mr Klaus Werner Iohannis,
• H.E. President of the Republic of Poland Mr Andrzej Duda,
• H.E. NATO Secretary General Mr Jens Stoltenberg.

Press conference will be livestreamed on the Chancery of the President of Latvia's webpage www.president.lv and social media pages X and YouTube.