Romania and the SAFE Program
The first tranche, worth 2.5 billion Euros, from the “Security Action for Europe” program, known as SAFE, has been deposited into Romania's accounts.
Sorin Iordan, 27.08.2026, 14:00
On Wednesday, Romania received its first payment of 2.5 billion Euros through the “Security Action for Europe” instrument, known as SAFE. The tranche represents 15% of the total allocation of 16.7 billion Euros and will support priority investments in defense and the modernization of military capabilities. European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, said the payment ‘marks an important milestone for European defense and for a more sovereign Europe’. In his view, the funding ‘will strengthen Romania’s defense capabilities and industrial base, while also contributing to Europe’s security’.
In Bucharest, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mihai Jurca, stated that through SAFE, priority investments in defense will be accelerated, military capabilities will be modernized and aligned with common European objectives, the Romanian defense industry will be strengthened in cooperation with its European counterpart, and interoperability among defense and security forces will be enhanced. The Romanian government already knows how it will allocate these funds. Thus, of the total 16.7 billion Euros, the largest share, over 9 billion Euros, will go to the Ministry of National Defense. The Romanian government has already signed contracts to purchase over 200 infantry fighting vehicles, two maritime patrol vessels and two diver-response vessels, 11 air defense systems, 34 military drone systems, over 900 Mistral surface-to-air missiles, used for close-in air defense, and 6 helicopters for transporting troops and military equipment.
One of the contracts, worth 5.7 billion Euros, was signed with the German defense contractor Rheinmetall, which described the deal as ‘the largest package of international contracts in the company’s recent history’. The German group, which has been active on the Romanian market for several years through its subsidiary Rheinmetall Automecanica, headquartered in Mediaș in central Romania, is set to invest several hundred million Euros more in our country, which will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs and the subcontracting of over 200 companies that will serve the supply chain.
The Ministry of Transport will also receive funds from the SAFE program allocation, specifically 4.2 billion Euros. The funds will be used to complete the sections of the A7 highway, which connects southern Romania to the northern border with Ukraine, and the A8, which crosses the Eastern Carpathians and links the historical regions of Transylvania and Moldavia to the Republic of Moldova, hence its name, the ‘Union Highway’. With a budget of 150 billion Euros, the SAFE instrument is part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock over 800 billion Euros in defense investments across the European Union. Brussels has stated that subsequent payments under SAFE will be granted to Romania as the established objectives are met. (LS)
