Romania President: We Need to Increase Defense Budget, Consolidate Energy Independence

According to the Romanian President, the current situation created by the Russian-Ukrainian war shows that Romania should increase its defense budget and work towards energy independence.

After the meeting of Romania’s Supreme Council of Defense, president Klaus Johannis mentioned that Romania’s strategic objectives in the current crisis are to increase the defense budget spending from 2% of the GDP currently to 2.5% and to work towards energy independence by developing renewable and civil nuclear energy sectors. 

Of course, to achieve these strategic objectives, political decisions will be needed, and specific plans need to be implemented by the tasked institutions.

Klaus Johannis, President of Romania

Among these strategic objectives, regional security, the situation of the Republic of Moldova regarding the influx of refugees but also the situation of the Ukrainian refugees in Romania were also discussed.

We decided to intensify at the bilateral and allied level the steps for the significant consolidation of the position of deterrence and defense on the Eastern Flank in the next period, through the deployment of allied forces and the accelerated establishment of the Romanian Fighting Group. In the general context produced by the effects of the regional security situation, it is necessary to support on various dimensions the Republic of Moldova, which is facing an increased wave of refugees and possibly other difficulties. In this regard, at the CSAT meeting, we decided on a series of support measures.

Klaus Johannis, President of Romania

Given the Ukrainian people’s crisis, President Klaus Johannis mentioned that Romania decided to set up a hub to collect and transport international humanitarian aid donations to Ukraine. He also stated that the country would step up its efforts to assist Ukrainian refugees and regulate individuals into Romania.

Regarding Romania’s contribution to the efforts of the international community to support Ukraine,today we decided to set up on our territory a logistics facility, a so-called hub, a center to collect and transport international donations in the field of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to the Ukrainians. At the same time, we have decided to step up measures to help refugees in Ukraine and to manage in an integrated way a massive influx of people entering the territory of our country.

Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania

Photo source: presidency.ro