The Ministry of National Defence salutes the annual report of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg published on March 15th. According to the document, Romania's defence expenditure increased significantly in 2017, approaching the two percent of the GDP target. The 33 percent allotted to defence expenditure places Romania first in NATO. It is also ranked first in terms of the defence expenditure increase compared to the previous year.

After almost a decade, Romania succeeded to allott in 2017 two percent of the GDP for defence, and it will continue to do so until 2026.

As for the 2017 budget, the defence expenditure was 14.764 billion lei, 33 percent of which was been steered into major equipment acquisitions, that is 1.81 percent of the estimated GDP at the time the budget was approved, placing Romania on the 6th place in NATO.

Romania's 2016 defence expenditure was 11.230 billion lei, while in 2017 it was 16.322 billion lei, which translates into an increase of 5.092 billion lei, that is over 45 percent, which is one of the biggest increases of its kind among NATO member states.

Thus, Romania's commitment is reiterated to fulfil its obligations on all important topics on NATO agenda, based on the national decision to ensure the budgetary resources needed for the modernisation and consolidation of the national defence capabilities. This way, Romania implements the Defence Pledge as decided at Wales NATO Summit. By adequately financing the acquisition of equipment / technical equipment essential to the armed forces and by revitalising existing military equipment and hardware, Romania proves it fulfils its obligations as a NATO member and that it is a credible and predictable ally in this part of Europe

At present, at the level of the Alliance, the preparations of the future NATO Summit in Brussels are in full swing. The allied enhanced forward presence is in place along the entire eastern flank and in the north-eastern one (the Baltic region), as well as in the south-east and at the Black Sea. We continue to focus on implementing it and we are expecting the big decisions of July that should be relevant for the defence and deterrence posture.

The Press Office