Romanian president Nicușor Dan said NATO states must increase defense spending during the opening statements given at the Bucharest Nine (B9) Summit, which took place on Wednesday, May 13, in the Romanian capital.  The B9 is an alliance of the nine NATO countries located in Eastern Europe, the countries geographically closest to Russia, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The general theme of the event in Bucharest is “Delivering More for Transatlantic Security,” according to the Romanian Presidential Administration. The summit is co-chaired by the Romanian president and his Polish counterpart, conservative Karol Nawrocki.