Poland's President Karol Nawrocki said on Tuesday that Poland and Romania are the most important centres of NATO's strategic response on the eastern flank.

At a joint news conference with Romania's President Nicusor Dan, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Nawrocki underlined the importance of the B9 format and the Three Seas Initiative, under which the positions of the states on the eastern flank are presented on an international scale.

'It is important, because our countries bear the greatest responsibility for the defence of Europe against Russia. Both Poland, in the north, and Romania, in the south, are those fortresses on NATO's eastern flank. Today, Warsaw and Bucharest are the most important centres of NATO's strategic response on the eastern flank. Our countries are not only diagnosing the dangers but they are increasingly responding to security hazards. That is also shown by the presence of Secretary General Mark Rutte, whom I and President Dan will meet today,' the Polish leader said.

He added that his discussions with Dan touched on collaboration of the two defence industries. He thanked Romania for its decision to purchase Warmate drones, adding that they will increase interoperability in the eastern flank region.

'We believe that we should not only be recipients of technology, but also creators, manufacturers of technology. Our defence industries can help increase Europe's resilience to dangers. Of course, there is a need to simplify cooperation procedures and to increase the participation of the states in the region in defence programmes. And both countries are interested in that,' the Polish president said.

He added that in Romania there are almost 2,000 Polish companies, which 'are developing well', an important aspect for bilateral relations.

Nawrocki also expressed his country's support for the Republic of Moldova, both in terms of military and institutional aspects. Poland supports Moldova's European path, he said.

'Poland will support all countries in Europe and around the world that want to gain independence from Russian influence. That is our national strategy, but also my point of view, as President of Poland. Where independence from the Russian Federation is sought, you can count on Poland's support,' he said.

Nawrocki welcomed the participation of the Scandinavian countries in the B9 summit, as well as the representative of the United States. Transatlantic relations with the United States are a guarantee of international security, he said.

'We talked about security in the Black Sea region and the Baltic Sea. These problems are interconnected, given the hybrid attacks of the Russian Federation. We have experience: we - in the Baltic Sea, Romania - in the Black Sea, and we will deepen this exchange of experience in our collaboration for the security of Poles and Romanians,' the Polish president said.

He mentioned having welcomed Dan in Warsaw two months previously. He added that Romania is a strategic partner of Poland and that these contacts at the highest level are important to the security of the two countries, but also to economic development. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)