Romania pledges to raise defence spending
The Romanian Armed Forces are set to benefit from higher defence spending. (Photo: Romanian Armed Forces)
Another European NATO member state aims to increase its defence budget, with Romania looking to spend 2.5% of GDP from 2023.
Romania is to increase its defence budget to 2.5% of GDP from 2023 in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis announced on 11 March during a visit by US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Even before the Russia-Ukraine crisis prompted many European countries to reassess their military spending priorities, Romania was one of the ten NATO member states to commit to spending at least 2% of GDP on defence.
Its 2022 budget of RON25.9 billion ($6.14 billion) is equivalent to 2.04% of GDP and marked a 14% year-on-year increase.
Additional investment in the defence budget may prompt Romania to resurrect the stalled Agilis armoured vehicle procurement programme with Rheinmetall.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that Romania is also engaged in acquiring four Gowind new-build multirole corvettes for €1.6 billion, designed by Naval Group but constructed locally. However, this programme has also stalled.
Other major ongoing defence investment programmes in Romania include the acquisition of 32 ex-Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 jets, approved by the Romanian parliament in December 2021 for €454 million ($515 million).
More from Defence Notes
-
![US Army selects L3Harris for Common Data Link sustainment]()
US Army selects L3Harris for Common Data Link sustainment
L3Harris is to maintain the backbone secure communications protocol for the US armed forces and intelligence services.
-
![Glide Phase Interceptor passes Systems Requirements Review milestone]()
Glide Phase Interceptor passes Systems Requirements Review milestone
The Glide Phase Interceptor programme in the US progresses by passing a new milestone.
-
![How sustainable is Global Britain’s presence in Asia?]()
How sustainable is Global Britain’s presence in Asia?
The UK is talking the talk when it comes to the Indo-Pacific region, but will its military be able to walk the walk in the longer term?
-
![The Disintegrating Review: where next for the UK?]()
The Disintegrating Review: where next for the UK?
The UK is not short of strategic documents outlining ambitious plans for its armed forces, but the ever-changing threat landscape poses a different set of questions.
