BUCHAREST, Romania — In a May virtual meeting with President Joe Biden, a group of nine Eastern European NATO countries led by Romania called for a bigger allied military presence on the Eastern Bloc. The group, known as the Bucharest Nine, saw an imminent threat from Russia’s troop buildup of 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine. Romania wants more American troops to deter Russia, and they are making investments to secure it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin still believes the Bucharest Nine countries to be within his sphere of influence, and he is using hybrid warfare to inject misinformation and divide NATO members. Romania is pushing back through its relationship with the United States, investing heavily in defense infrastructure, multi-lateral exercises, and American military hardware.
