(Weimar Plus) Group Meets In Rome

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, June 12 (KUNA) -- A high-level meeting of the (Weimar Plus) group foreign ministers was launched Thursday in Rome, chaired by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The talks brought together top diplomats and senior officials from Germany, Poland, Ukraine, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU High Representativefor Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
In a statement issued by Italyآ's Foreign Ministry in Rome, the gathering was described as "the first ministerial-level meeting under the expanded "Weimar Plus" format "now including NATO reflecting agrowing push for tighter European and transatlantic coordination in response to ongoing security threats.
The Italian Foreign Ministry explained that the (Weimar Plus) format is an extension of the traditional Weimar Triangle composed of France, Germany and Poland, adding that this ministerial meeting is animportant moment of coordination in preparation for the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague.
According to the statement, the first working session will focus on Euro-Atlantic security and will offer participants an opportunity to reaffirm unity, a shared vision on defense and collective security as well as a commitment to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance while preserving strong transatlantic ties.
The second working session will reaffirm the partnersآ' support for Kyiv in achieving a just peace that ensures appropriate security guarantees for Ukraine.
In the presence of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha, participants will strongly reiterate their ongoing commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people to identify a credible path to peace and to initiate the countryآ's reconstruction.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, bilateral meetings are scheduled between Minister Antonio Tajani and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha.
Launched in February 2025 (Weimar Plus) came in direct response to changes in U.S. policy on the Ukraine war and the broader transatlantic security structure under President Donald Trump, aiming to boost European strategic autonomy, particularly by continuing military and economic support for Ukraine and increasing national defense spending across member states. (end)
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