Romania will raise its combined defense and security spending to 3.7% of GDP this year and has joined NATO’s new Drone Edge initiative for joint drone procurement, president Nicu\u0219or Dan announced on Wednesday, July 8, while attending the NATO summit in Ankara. The country also joined a NATO-backed initiative to acquire Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft and signed a declaration to establish a new international defense financing institution.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post, president Dan said Romania remains committed to fulfilling its obligations as a NATO ally and will continue investing in defense while strengthening collective security, particularly in the Black Sea region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we will reach combined defense and security spending of 3.7% of GDP,\u201d Nicu\u0219or Dan said. \u201cWe are working to develop a stronger and more capable transatlantic defense industry. That is why Romania has joined the NATO Drone Edge project, an initiative that will enable Allied countries to jointly procure drones.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Romania would assume greater responsibility for collective security by contributing to deterrence and preventing incidents in the Black Sea region, in close cooperation with other NATO allies.<\/p>\n
Moreover, president Dan also said Romania would continue supporting Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, while expanding its role as a stabilizing actor on NATO’s Eastern Flank and within the Bucharest Nine (B9) format.<\/p>\n\n
Separately, Nicu\u0219or Dan announced on July 7<\/a> that Romania had joined NATO and partner countries in signing a declaration of intent to establish the Defense, Security and Resilience Bank, an initiative led by Canada aimed at strengthening financing for defense and security projects.<\/p>\n