In recent developments, the Bucharest Nine (B9)—Eastern European member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO)—refuted Russia’s assertions regarding NATO’s eastern “expansion”. The B9 countries emphasize that they voluntarily chose to align westwardly as independent European states. This article will further explore the B9 group, their background, the Three Seas Initiative and discuss the geopolitical implications of these bodies.
Understanding the Bucharest Nine
The Bucharest Nine refers to a collective of nine Eastern European countries within NATO. Post-Cold War, these countries became part of the U.S.-led military alliance, hence gaining the name Bucharest Nine or B9. This formation took place on 4th November 2015 and the name was derived from Romania’s capital, Bucharest.
Co-initiated by Klaus Iohannis, now President of Romania, and Andrzej Duda, who took office as Poland’s President in August 2015, B9 emerged from the High-Level Meeting of the States from Central and Eastern Europe in Bucharest.
The B9 is composed of Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, along with the three Baltic republics—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Often referred to as the “voice of the Eastern Flank” within the NATO alliance, the B9 fosters dialogue and consultation among participant states across NATO members.
Once closely associated with the now dissolved Soviet Union, all nine countries have embraced democracy. They are also members of the European Union (EU) and NATO. This group has stood against Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine since 2014.
The Three Seas Initiative
Distinct from B9 is the Three Seas Initiative (3SI). It is a regional endeavor in Europe aimed to expand cross-border energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure, thus propelling economic development in the region between the Adriatic Sea, Baltic Sea, and Black Sea.
Twelve countries partake in 3SI, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. All member countries are part of the EU.
Geopolitical Context
The formation and actions of these alliances have significant geopolitical implications. The B9, through their standpoint regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine, underscore their commitment to democracy and western alignment, while challenging Russia’s narratives. Simultaneously, initiatives like 3SI aim at regional development and progress, creating an interconnected and economically robust Europe.
Previous Questions on Geopolitical Groupings
In the context of the Civil Services Examination, understanding such geopolitical groupings is essential. Here are a few previous year questions (PYQs) pertaining to this topic.
In 2014, a question was asked about the BRICS grouping with statements: “The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.” (Correct answer: b; 2 only)
In 2015, a question concerning the ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’ appeared with statements: “It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.” (Correct answer: d; Neither 1 nor 2)