The article focuses on strengthening the military potential of the Bucharest Nine (B9) states in the context of the russia's war in Ukraine. The authors clarify the reasons and goals of the consolidation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe for cooperation within the framework of the Bucharest format. Prerequisites for changes in defense spending within NATO are described, namely, the russian-Ukrainian war. The reaction of the North Atlantic Alliance to Russia's armed attack on Ukraine is studied, in particular after the full-scale russian invasion. The main results of the NATO summit in Madrid, which took place in 2022, are considered, separately, the adoption of the new Strategic Concept of NATO. The features of the new security and defense model presented by J. Stoltenberg, which includes the protection of the Eastern flank of the Alliance and is based on three key pillars, are pointed, namely: 1) increased forward presence with more combat operations; 2) pre-deployment of military equipment to save time in conditions where mobilization of forces is required; 3) preliminary definition of units - these are forces that will undergo training in a certain territory, where they will have certain duties. The dynamics of defense expenditures of each of the participating countries of the Bucharest Nine format from the beginning of the russian-Ukrainian war in 2014 to the period after the open armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 is presented. The information on the formation of the newest high-reaction combat groups of the North Atlantic Alliance and their location on the territory of the B9 member states to strengthen the military presence in countries that are at risk in the event of further escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war is covered. The data related to NATO military exercises within the framework of strengthening the eastern borders in connection with the intensification of the armed aggression of the russian federation are analyzed. As a result of the study, it is concluded that russian aggression against Ukraine is considered by the member states of the Alliance to be a colossal threat to the existence of peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. The authors predict a further increase in the military potential of the Bucharest Nine countries to maintain a stable security situation in the subregion.
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