New National Defense Strategy
President Nicuşor Dan presented the draft of Romania's new National Defense Strategy.
Corina Cristea, 13.11.2025, 14:00
The central concept of Romania’s National Defense Strategy for the period 2025-2030 is “independence in solidarity”, announced President Nicușor Dan, who presented on Wednesday the draft strategy which is currently under public debate. This concept occurs in a geopolitical context in which the international order is being questioned, the head of state stressed. Nicușor Dan specified that there is an increase in military tensions all over the world, and also a tendency to group authoritarian-governed states, simultaneously with a decrease in the capacity of international bodies to maintain the rules-based order.
The Romanian president also spoke about technological evolution and digitalization and explained that interaction with social networks gives the green light to manipulation and disinformation actions for which specific means of defense must be prepared. In this context, Romania must maintain its partnerships and manifest its interests within the EU, NATO and in its relationship with the USA, the head of state also said. Russia’s hostile actions are considered the main threat to national security, but the document also identifies other vulnerabilities, from demographic decline to the weak administrative capacity of the state.
Nicuşor Dan: “Public administration has several problems. First of all – and somehow this was one of the shocks or surprises for me – the administration does not work with data, including at the national level. There are many situations in which decisions are not based on data, we do not see a great appetite for collaboration between public institutions, everyone is concerned with their own little sectoral policy and because of this we do not have an integrated vision and, of course, also because of this we do not see people in the administration willing to innovate.”
Another vulnerability clearly delineated in the strategy is corruption, the head of state also said, and according to the new strategy, intelligence services will return with an important, but clearly defined role in the fight against this scourge.
Nicuşor Dan: “Regarding the phenomenon of corruption, I expressly mentioned three things. First, an integrated approach, in the sense of collaboration between all institutions that have these powers. Second, the involvement of intelligence services in collecting data on this phenomenon. And that’s all they do, I expressly stated, without involvement in the criminal investigation stage and the justice process. And the correction of legislative and administrative mechanisms that delay the achievement of justice in matters of corruption.”
The document will be approved on November 24 by the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), and two days later, President Nicușor Dan will present the strategy in the Romanian Parliament’s plenary session. (LS)
