Ilie Bolojan: We are aiming at a gradual increase of the budget for defense in the coming years / what says about support for Ukraine
The press conference organized by the interim president Ilie Bolojan at the Cotroceni Palace, in Bucharest, February 28, 2025. Photo source: Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea.
NATO remains the “guarantor of our collective defense”, and the commitment of Romania to comply with its obligations is unwavering, said interim president Ilie Bolojan, in the message transmitted on the occasion of NATO Day and the 21 years anniversary of our country's accession to the transatlantic alliance.
“We celebrate 21 years since Romania became part of the strongest political-military alliance in history. NATO accession and integration in the European Union have been the main strategic objectives assumed by our country after the December 1989 Revolution, and their achievement has positively marked the evolution of our society to an authentic democracy. Both a security guarantee and a solid basis that our country to continue to develop and be profiled as a regional stability pillar and as a responsible ally, ”said Ilie Bolojan.
Bolojan mentioned that through the NATO structures that Romania hosts and by the participation of our military in the NATO combat group in Poland and in the aerial police missions in the Baltic countries, our country plays an important role in strengthening the allied position of discouragement and defense on the eastern flank.
“NATO remains the guarantor of our collective defense, and the commitment of Romania to comply with its obligations within the Alliance is unwavering. At the same time, we will contribute to the consolidation of European Security, along with the other Member States of the European Union. We will continue to support Ukraine, in the perspective of obtaining a fair and sustainable peace,” Bolojan continued.
Bolojan also said that Romania respected the NATO committed commitment and increased the budget for defense to over 2% of GDP.
“We are aiming at a gradual growth in the coming years, in conditions of budgetary equilibrium and with the support of European instruments. We will continue to use this financial basis to prioritize the modernization and endowment of the Romanian Army, the increase of the interoperability, the training of the military personnel and the revitalization of the national defense industry. Bolojan.
Finally, the interim chief of the state addressed congratulations and thanks to all those who contributed “to the realization of this national desire”.
