Dr. Alexandru-Ionuț Drăgulin, Romanian Diplomatic Institute/Expertise Provision Service
Table of contents
Summary
Here is a summary of Alexandru Drăgulin’s analysis of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit held in Zagreb and Dubrovnik in 2026, structured around the main strategic directions:
The 2026 3SI Summit: From Infrastructure to Geopolitical Relevance
1. Evolution and Institutional Consolidation
The 2026 summit marks the 3SI’s transition from a technical platform focused on infrastructure projects to a mechanism for strategic cooperation essential to the EU’s eastern flank.
- The Parliamentary Dimension: The first parliamentary summit was launched in Zagreb, providing the Initiative with enhanced political legitimacy and a framework for legislative harmonization.
- The Economic and Academic Pillar: The Business Forum in Dubrovnik and cooperation among think tanks have transformed 3SI into a space for articulating regional strategic identity and geoeconomic interests.
2. Expansion of the Format and Partnerships
- Eastern Anchoring: The gradual integration of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into regional projects reflects the goal of security and resilience in the face of Russian aggression.
- New Partners: In addition to traditional partners (the U.S., Germany, Japan), 2026 brought a significant rapprochement with Italy, extending the platform’s relevance to the entire European space.
3. Priority Themes on the 2026 Agenda
- Energy Security: The focus has been on independence from Russian resources, the use of LNG terminals (e.g., Krk), and the development of North-South corridors. A new development is the promotion of civil nuclear energy (small modular reactors – SMRs).
- Connectivity and Transport: Modernization of rail and road corridors, with a military mobility component essential for NATO’s needs.
- Digitalization and AI: Prioritizing cybersecurity and data infrastructure to reduce the technological gap with Western Europe.
4. The Role of the United States
Washington remains the primary supporter, approaching 3SI through the lens of national interests:
- Economic: Promoting exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and American digital technology.
- Strategic: Strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure on the eastern flank as a complementary platform to NATO.
- New Frameworks: Launching the “Trump Peace Pipelines Framework,” a strategic framework for expanding gas infrastructure in the region.
5. Romania’s Positioning
Romania remains a pillar of stability and an active promoter of the format:
- Economic Objectives: Connecting the Port of Constanța to European networks and harnessing energy resources in the Black Sea.
- Strategic Vision: Bucharest supports the complementary nature of the 3SI to the EU and NATO, avoiding its transformation into an alternative or anti-European project.
- Regional Support: Romania is the main advocate for the integration of the Republic of Moldova into European energy and transport networks.
6. Documents and Policy Conclusions
- Final Declaration: Reaffirms support for Ukraine and condemns Russian aggression. Notably, Hungary did not sign the document, highlighting internal disagreements regarding policy toward Moscow.
- Key Agreements: Nuclear partnerships (U.S.-Croatia) and interconnection agreements with the Western Balkans (Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina) were signed.
Conclusion: The 2026 summit confirms that the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) has become a regional hub for economic and energy security, essential for the stability of Central and Eastern Europe in the new geopolitical context. For Romania, the success of this framework means both development opportunities and the consolidation of its role as a regional leader and strategic partner of the U.S.
Nicușor Dan’s conclusions on the 3SI summit in Dubrovnik (video with subtitles in English)
Analysis
The Three Seas Initiative (3SI / Three Seas Initiative – 3SI), held in March–April 2026 in Zagreb and Dubrovnik under the Croatian presidency, confirmed the gradual transformation of the format from a regional platform focused predominantly on infrastructure into a cooperation mechanism of increasingly strategic relevance for the security, economy, and connectivity of Central and Eastern Europe. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, geopolitical competition among major powers, and the process of redefining European strategic autonomy, the Initiative is beginning to be perceived not only as a technical framework for regional cooperation but also as a space for articulating the interests of states on the eastern and central flanks of the European Union.
Institutional Consolidation of the Initiative After 2025
Following the 2025 anniversary summit held in Poland, the 3SI entered a phase of institutional consolidation and expansion of its functional scope. While in its early years the Initiative was defined primarily by presidential summits and the promotion of energy and transport infrastructure projects, the period 2025–2026 indicates a trend toward gradual institutionalization.
One of the most significant developments is the emergence of a parliamentary dimension. The official parliamentary meeting in Zagreb in March 2026 marked the Initiative’s first summit of this kind and served to create an additional mechanism for political coordination among participating states. Through this expansion, 3SI seeks to move beyond the confines of a strictly intergovernmental forum and achieve broader political legitimacy, including with regard to the legislative harmonization necessary for the implementation of cross-border projects.
In parallel, the Business Forum associated with the Dubrovnik summit has developed into an important regional platform for the business community and strategic investments. The participation of hundreds of companies and financial institutions highlighted the fact that 3SI is seeking to build a geoeconomic component as well, not just a geopolitical one.
There is also a noticeable strengthening of the academic dimension and cooperation among think tanks, suggesting that the Initiative is seeking to develop a more coherent regional strategic identity. In this sense, 3SI is no longer merely a mechanism for promoting infrastructure but is beginning to function as a space for political and strategic coordination among the states of Central and Eastern Europe.
Expansion of the Format and New Partners
The 3SI is a framework designed to foster economic integration and reduce disparities between Central European and Western European states. At the 2025 Warsaw Summit, participating countries reaffirmed that the cooperation framework “is of political origin but guided by economic principles, and the foundation of its operational framework is economic cooperation.” The core objective of the 3SI is European integration (Joint Declaration of the 10th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, 2025). This development has significant geopolitical implications. The gradual integration of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into regional projects reflects the member states’ intention to contribute to the Euro-Atlantic and European anchoring of the space between the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the 3SI is also taking on an increasingly pronounced regional security dimension.
Regarding strategic partners, in addition to the United States, Germany, and Japan, 2026 saw Italy move closer to the Initiative’s framework. This expansion suggests that 3SI is attempting to move beyond the perception of a “Central and Eastern European bloc” and to present itself as a platform for connectivity and resilience relevant to the entire European space.
Main topics discussed at the 2026 summit
Energy security
The dominant theme of the summit was energy security. Participating states discussed reducing dependence on Russian energy resources and developing regional natural gas, LNG, and electricity infrastructure.
North–South energy corridors remained a priority, and LNG terminals in the region—including the one in Krk (Croatia)—were presented as essential elements for diversifying supply sources. At the same time, discussions focused on expanding regional interconnectors and integrating the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova into European networks.
The civil nuclear component is also becoming increasingly prominent, with some participating states promoting cooperation in the field of small modular reactors and investments in nuclear energy as a solution for long-term energy security.
Regional Infrastructure and Connectivity
3SI continues to promote the idea that Central and Eastern Europe’s infrastructure has historically been oriented along the East–West axis, while North–South connections remain underdeveloped. In this context, the Initiative aims to develop transport and logistics corridors between the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Black Sea.
Discussions included: regional highways and railways; integration into TEN-T networks; military mobility; port and logistics infrastructure; and the connectivity needed for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Indirectly, this component also reflects the adaptation of regional infrastructure to NATO’s strategic needs on the eastern flank.
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence
A relatively new element of the 3SI agenda is the emphasis on digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. The 2026 summit included discussions on: regional data centers; cybersecurity; strategic digital infrastructure; technological cooperation; AI and economic competitiveness.
This thematic expansion shows that the Initiative is seeking to adapt to global economic transformations and to bridge the technological gaps between Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe.
The United States’ stance on 3SI in the “Trump era”
The United States remains the Initiative’s main external supporter. Washington views 3SI as a strategic tool for strengthening the Euro-Atlantic eastern flank and reducing Russia’s energy and geopolitical influence in the region. A key shift, however, is the much more evident focus on “national interests.”
U.S. involvement has several dimensions.
The first is the energy dimension. The U.S. supports the development of LNG infrastructure and the integration of regional natural gas markets. Clearly, there is also an economic component, as American companies are interested in the regional energy market.
The second dimension is strategic and geopolitical. In the context of the war in Ukraine, Washington views 3SI as a platform complementary to NATO, useful for increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure and strengthening connectivity on the eastern flank.
The third dimension is technological and digital. The U.S. is seeking to maintain its influence in areas such as digital infrastructure, data centers, and artificial intelligence, amid increasingly intense global technological competition.
However, U.S. support for the 3SI is carefully calibrated. Washington supports the Initiative to the extent that it remains complementary to Euro-Atlantic structures and does not evolve into an autonomous platform that could generate internal tensions within the EU.
Romania’s Position and Objectives
Romania continues to be one of the most active and consistent actors within the 3SI. For Bucharest, the Initiative has simultaneous economic, strategic, and geopolitical dimensions.
Romania and regional infrastructure
Romania consistently promotes the development of North–South infrastructure and the connection of the Black Sea region to central European networks. From Bucharest’s perspective, the 3SI can help bridge the historical infrastructure gaps between Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe.
For Romania, the development of regional infrastructure is also linked to the growing strategic importance of the Port of Constanța and the Black Sea corridor in the context of the war in Ukraine and regional logistical transformations.
Romania and Energy Security
Bucharest supports the development of regional interconnectors and the diversification of energy sources. In the context of exploiting Black Sea resources and investing in nuclear energy, Romania is seeking to strengthen its profile as a relevant regional player in the energy sector. At the same time, Romania promotes the integration of the Republic of Moldova into European energy networks and the reduction of Chișinău’s dependence on infrastructure left over from the Soviet era.
Romania and the strategic dimension of 3SI
Bucharest’s official position emphasizes the complementary nature of the Initiative vis-à-vis the EU and NATO. Romania avoids presenting 3SI as an alternative to European integration or to Euro-Atlantic structures.
From a Romanian perspective, 3SI is: an instrument of regional development; a mechanism for strengthening the eastern flank; a platform for deepening the transatlantic relationship; a framework for supporting the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Furthermore, Romania seeks to promote a balanced vision of the Initiative, avoiding its transformation into an exclusively anti-Russian format or a platform for internal competition within the European Union.
Conclusions
The 2026 3SI Summit indicates that the Three Seas Initiative is undergoing a process of strategic transformation. The format is gradually moving beyond its strictly infrastructural dimension and beginning to function as a regional mechanism for geopolitical, economic, and energy coordination.
In the context of the war in Ukraine and global competition for infrastructure, energy, and technology, the Initiative is becoming increasingly relevant for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, the expansion of its parliamentary and economic dimensions suggests an attempt to build a more coherent and influential regional structure.
For Romania, the 3SI represents both an opportunity for economic and infrastructure development and a strategic tool for strengthening its regional position, its relationship with the United States, and its role in supporting the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Documents Adopted at the Summit
At the 2026 Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit, both joint political documents at the level of participating states and a series of sectoral agreements and declarations were adopted, particularly in the fields of energy and infrastructure. Although some official texts have not yet been published in full, several important elements emerge from the available information.
1. The Summit’s Joint Final Declaration
As at every annual 3SI summit, the participating states adopted a joint political declaration.
The main elements included in the 2026 final declaration were: reaffirmation of the objectives of the North–South Connectivity Initiative; emphasis on energy infrastructure, transport, and digitalization; support for regional economic and strategic resilience; support for Ukraine; and condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine as “unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal.”
An important political aspect is that Hungary did not sign the final declaration due to the wording regarding the war in Ukraine and Russia. This confirms the existence of strategic differences within the format, particularly between the predominantly pro-Atlantic and anti-Russian stance of most participants and the Hungarian government’s more ambivalent foreign policy.
2. Energy Documents and Agreements
The 2026 summit had a much more pronounced energy dimension than previous editions. Several agreements and memoranda were signed on the sidelines of the summit.
a) Joint Declaration on U.S.–Croatia Nuclear Cooperation
The United States and Croatia signed a joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation. The document aims to deepen cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy; supports the introduction of U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) technology; expands U.S.-Croatian industrial cooperation; and aligns with the U.S. strategy to strengthen its energy influence in Central and Eastern Europe. This is one of the summit’s most significant concrete outcomes.
b) Joint Declaration on the Southern Interconnection
A joint declaration was also signed in support of the gas interconnector between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Southern Interconnection Gas Pipeline”). The project’s objectives are: connecting Bosnia to Croatia’s energy infrastructure; providing access to the Krk LNG terminal; reducing dependence on Russian gas; and further integrating the Western Balkans into the European energy market. This document shows that 3SI is beginning to extend beyond the strict scope of EU member states and function as a regional instrument for energy integration.
c) “Trump Peace Pipelines Framework”
Another important document announced by the U.S. side was the launch of the so-called
“Trump Peace Pipelines Framework.” This is not a formal multilateral treaty, but rather a regional strategic framework with a U.S. doctrinal foundation, intended to expand natural gas and LNG infrastructure in Central and Southeast Europe. It is geared toward increasing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas.
The document’s political significance is, however, very great, as it indicates the U.S. administration’s intention to use the 3SI as a regional energy platform, to strengthen the U.S.’s economic and strategic presence in the region, and to emphasize the Initiative’s geoeconomic dimension.
3. Economic and Technological Agreements
According to available information, the following were signed during the summit and Business Forum: energy agreements; memorandums on infrastructure; projects related to AI and data centers; financial and investment agreements. These documents were primarily bilateral, sectoral, and investment-oriented. They do not yet represent regional economic integration in the classical sense, but they show that 3SI is evolving into a platform for geoeconomic coordination, a regional hub for infrastructure and energy, and a space for attracting strategic Western capital.
4. The Political Significance of the Adopted Documents
From a strategic perspective, the documents and agreements adopted at the 2026 summit point to several important trends.
The emphasis on energy security. Energy has become the main area of concrete cooperation within the 3SI. Most of the signed documents focused on: LNG, natural gas infrastructure, interconnectivity, nuclear energy, and energy resilience.
The growing role of the U.S. The adopted documents confirm that the U.S. is no longer merely an external partner but a central actor in the Initiative’s evolution. Washington is funding, facilitating, and driving energy and digital projects; it is seeking to transform 3SI into a regional platform for Euro-Atlantic strategic cooperation.
Regionalization of economic security. 3SI is also beginning to function as a mechanism for regional economic resilience, a platform for critical infrastructure, and an instrument for reducing strategic vulnerabilities vis-à-vis Russia.
Expansion toward the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Documents on energy infrastructure and the participation of associated states indicate that the Initiative is gradually extending its relevance to the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. This process is consistent with EU and NATO objectives for regional integration and the strategic stabilization of the eastern and southeastern neighborhood.
Photo: (source: YouTube)
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