Nine NATO country leaders in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) will meet in Bucharest next week, on November 4, in a regional summit, to come up with a common message about the necessity of a strong NATO presence in the region, according to Mediafax.

The summit will be co-chaired by NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis, and Poland’s president Andrzej Duda. The presidents of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will also come to the summit.

NATO’s CEE member countries are worried about Russia’s expansion plans in the region, after occupying Crimea, in March 2014. Romania, Poland and other countries in the region have asked NATO to increase its military presence at the eastern border by opening permanent bases and by bringing more soldiers and military equipment.

These requests may remain unanswered, however, as Germany, one of NATO’s strongest members, wants „better cooperation” with Russia. Germany’s Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel made a visit to Moscow earlier this week to meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, according to Hotnews.ro.

NATO members decided in February to open six command and control units in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, which would help the Alliance deploy troops easier in the region if needed. Romania will also host a new deployable Multinational Division Headquarters for the southeast. Poland will have a similar center for the northeast.

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editor@romania-insider.com