Meetings for Europe in Yerevan
At the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, which brought together leaders from 48 countries, Romania was represented by President Nicușor Dan.
Corina Cristea, 05.05.2026, 14:00
Created as a platform for dialogue following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Political Community Summit brings together leaders from nearly all European countries, excluding Russia and Belarus, as well as from partner countries such as Canada, twice a year. The eighth such meeting has taken place recently in Armenia, with heads of state and government from 48 countries gathering in Yerevan to discuss ways to cooperate more closely and coordinate their actions to strengthen democratic resilience, promote connectivity, and enhance economic and energy security.
“The Union has demonstrated in recent years its ability to respond to emergencies and conflicts, and now we must focus more on long-term strategy,” the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on this occasion. European nations have “got the message” from U.S. President Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are implemented, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who was also present in Armenia. The statement comes after the White House leader accused some NATO nations of not doing enough to support the U.S. in the war in Iran and, to once again show his dissatisfaction with European allies, he announced that he intended to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The announcement of the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the troop withdrawal is “surprising,” but it demonstrates that Europe “must do more to truly strengthen NATO’s European pillar,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Support for Ukraine was another major topic in Yerevan, where the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the plan to help Ukraine obtain essential military equipment.
Romania was represented at the summit in Armenia by President Nicușor Dan, who stated that Europe was capable of compensating for a potential reduction in U.S. involvement in the continent’s security. The Romanian official co-chaired the roundtable in Yerevan, alongside the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Democratic Resilience and Hybrid Threats” and, on this occasion, emphasized the need for strong and transparent institutions, as well as effective measures against disinformation and external interference, with the aim of preventing current vulnerabilities from becoming long-term structural risks. President Dan also hosted, on the sidelines of the summit, an informal discussion on the impact of the Vertical Gas Corridor on regional energy security. The leaders present agreed that diversifying supply sources and transit routes is not optional but a strategic necessity, and that Romania makes a significant contribution to this agenda through its geography, infrastructure, and a firm commitment to the transatlantic partnership. Nicușor Dan also participated in a new meeting of the Coordination Group for the Republic of Moldova, which aimed to strengthen international support for Chișinău. (LS)
