CSAT Decisions
Romania’s Higher Defence Council (CSAT) has approved the equipment procurement plan for the Romanian army
Mihai Pelin, 08.09.2026, 14:00
Bucharest has seen a fresh session of the country’s Higher Defence Council, known as CSAT, headed by the Romanian President Nicuşor Dan. High on the agenda were issues concerning the consolidation of the Romanian Army’s operational capabilities and the adjustment of strategic planning to the new geo-political realities. During the session, the CSAT members have defined courses of action for streamlining the national defence system according to the standards and requirements of the Euroatlantic architecture, in the context of the present developments in the regional and global security environment.
In this respect, the CSAT has approved Romania’s equipment procurement plan for the period 2027-2036. The document provides for the optimum correlation between the operational needs for military equipment and the multiannual financial resources allotted to defence at the same time facilitating the consolidation of the existing capabilities and the introduction of new others, which are sustainable, flexible and mobile, ready to respond to present–day risks and threats.
Another programme has been approved, namely the one providing for the transformation, development and equipment procurement for the Romanian Army until 2044 – which translates into concrete measures the recommendations in the defence’s strategic analysis the CSAT approved in 2025.
The Romanian Army’s level of requirements has been defined by the need to deter combat and counter threats and challenges to territorial integrity, national sovereignty to the stability and economic progress as well as the optimal management of collective defence responsibilities.
At the NATO summit in Prague last year, Romania pledged together with the allies to increase budgetary allotment up to 5% of the GDP by 2035; 3.5% for defence expenses and 1.5% for expenses associated to this field.
In terms of developing the national defence industry, through the modernization and capability of producing high-performance weapons, the CSAT has approved the assessment document on the implementation of the SAFE programme, drawn up by an inter-institutional working group constituted at the Executive level and dedicated to specific acquisitions of capabilities.
According to the presidential administration, in the context in which the United States is in full process of revising its military posture in Europe, the CSAT has assessed the present stage and the following ones of the bilateral dialogue, dedicated to the presence and capabilities of the US troops in Romania.
The CSAT members believe the measures regarding the consolidation of the US posture in Romania represent a strategic investment in Romania’s security and an essential factor of deterrence and defence on NATO’s eastern flank and in the entire Euro-Atlantic space. Elements specific to the host country’s support, offered by Romania, adjusted to the operational and logistic requirements of the US army are being analyzed during an inter-institutional effort, which is going to underpin in the following period the process of making concrete decisions, the Presidential Administration says.
(bill)
