After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many European NATO Member States have announced their plans to significantly increase their defence spending. In line with this trend, on 1 March 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis officially announced his government’s intention to increase the defence capacity of the Romanian State from the current 2% of the national GDP to 2.5%.
Already in December 2021, the Romanian Parliament approved strengthening the State military capabilities by increasing the defence budget up to RON 25.9billion (USD 6 billion), eventually reaching the 2% benchmark established by the NATO Alliance. The current 2022 Romanian budget is already about 55% higher than the 2016 spending, and it has registered a 14% annual nominal increase in military expenses compared to the year 2021. Nevertheless, the new security situation has required additional economic interventions.
On 1 March, the President’s press statement stressed the necessity of consolidating “the position of deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank” in the next future, and President Iohannis made the same remark on 11 March, when the US Vice President Kamala Harris met the Romanian leader in Poland. On that occasion, Iohannis recognised that “security starts at home” and, therefore, Romania has committed to consolidating the transatlantic strategic partnerships by strengthening its defence measures.
Bucharest’s defence investments have recently focused on tracked and wheeled-armoured vehicles, missiles systems and rockets, and air programmes. Following such military interests, Romania plans to acquire 32 Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 jets to complement its aircraft fleet. Moreover, Bucharest is also looking to obtain the Patriot air-defence missile system and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) from the United States. Lastly, Shepard News interestingly noted that supplementary budgeting for the Romanian military sector might foster the revival of the Romania-Rheinmetall Agilis armoured vehicle programme that is currently paralysed by a stalled procurement plan.
Written by Anna Corrente
Bibliography:
Popescu, A.R. (2021, December 30). Romania passes state budget, increases defence spending. Janes. [online]. Available at: https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/romania-passes-state-budget-increases-defence-spending
Romanian Presidency (2022, March 1st). Press statement made by the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, at the end of the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence. [online]. Available at: https://www.presidency.ro/ro/media/csat/declaratia-de-presa-sustinuta-de-presedintele-romaniei-klaus-iohannis-la-finalul-sedintei-consiliului-suprem-de-aparare-a-tarii1646140335
The Shephard News Team (2022, March 15). Romania pledges to raise defence spending. Shephard Media [online]. Available at: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/romania-pledges-to-raise-defence-spending/
