Romania’s new President Nicușor Dan said he wanted to drastically increase military spending for his country.
Dan proposed that 3.5 per cent of GDP go to what he called effective military spending and 1.5 per cent to related spending by 2032.
“So, first of all, that for the moment it is a proposal that Romania supports, because it is Romania’s interest that all of Europe will spend and produce evenly, military equipment,” Dan told journalists on June 3.
“The discussion will be at the NATO summit, it will be practically the only discussion at the NATO summit in The Hague in three weeks and if this issue becomes an obligation for all member states, it will be 3.5 per cent military spending, as we have 2.3 per cent at this moment, plus 1.5 per cent spending on related infrastructure.”
Dan said the modernisation of the port of Constanta or an update of a highway to Ukraine could be taken into consideration under the proposals.
“Of course we should not spend anything on the military if being in an ideal world but we are not in the ideal world,” he added.
At the Defence Summit in Vilnius on June 2, Dan said all participants had highlighted the ongoing Russian aggression, particularly in the form of hybrid actions affecting every country represented there.
It was also noted that the Kremlin has modernised its military as part of its war efforts. Given these developments, the threat is real, and increased defence spending was a necessity, Dan said.
His support for more spending on defence came after a contested presidential election where the lead candidate, Călin Georgescu, who opposed more military spending and wanted to improve relations with Russia, was barred from running.
Călin Georgescu, who was the leading candidate in last year’s Romanian presidential elections until the courts barred him from running, has said he will quit politics. https://t.co/IPv9lBw7Qp
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 27, 2025
