November 24, 2025 UPDATE (2)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 24.11.2025, 20:00
New National Defense Strategy
Romania’s National Defense Strategy was greenlit on Monday by the Supreme Council of National Defense, which met in session in Bucharest. The document was under public debate, and the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, announced that the draft was supplemented with proposals coming from civil society as well.
Russia’s hostile actions represent the main threat to national security, but the defense strategy also identifies other vulnerabilities, from demographic decline to the state’s weak administrative capacity. The funding application for the EU’s SAFE Program was also on the agenda of the Council meeting.
Through this financial instrument, created by the European Commission to support member states in strengthening defense capabilities and making strategic investments in critical infrastructure, Romania will attract nearly €17 billion. The money is to be invested in modernizing military facilities, acquiring equipment, as well as constructing over 200 kilometers of highway.
Informal talks on the war in Ukraine
The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, on Monday participated via videolink in the informal meeting of EU leaders regarding Ukraine. This took place in the context of recent rounds of discussions held in various formats, following the 28-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
The Romanian president emphasized that solutions must be found for continuing and consolidating support for Ukraine through concrete measures. There is a direct link between the security of Ukraine, that of the Republic of Moldova, and the region as a whole, and current peace negotiations must take this aspect into account, Nicușor Dan also said.
We recall that the peace plan for Ukraine, which was first proposed to Kyiv last week, includes significant territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia, including all of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. European leaders subsequently presented a counterproposal that would soften some of the proposed territorial concessions and would include a security guarantee from the United States modeled on Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, according to which if Ukraine were to be attacked, the USA would intervene militarily in its defense.
National Day of Romania
Over 2,900 military personnel and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, along with 220 pieces of technical equipment, will participate in the military parade organized on December 1 in the capital on the occasion of Romania’s National Day.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, 240 foreign military personnel will also march in the military parade, as part of detachments from France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the US, as well as military personnel from allied countries contributing to the NATO structures on Romanian territory.
On December 1, the national flag will be flown at all military institutions in the country, and the Grand Pavois will be hoisted on board maritime and river vessels. Military personnel in theaters of operations and on foreign missions will participate in specific ceremonies and activities.
Fiscal policy
Fiscal policy remains the main risk to inflation and Romania’s financial stability in 2026, according to CFA Romania Association, following a survey conducted among its members. According to the Association, over the next 12 months, the inflation rate will reach 6.26%, and the average value of the Euro will be 5.2 lei.
Financial analysts also estimate a budget deficit of 7% of GDP, down from over 8% for 2025. Economic growth forecasts are optimistic and indicate an increase of nearly 1% in 2026 compared to only 0.6% for this year. Under these circumstances, most experts predict stagnation in prices of residential properties in urban areas, although they admit these are currently overvalued. Additionally, public debt is forecast to increase to 62% of GDP next year, from 59% currently, and Romania will remain in the investment-recommended rating category.
Romania-Italy Cultural Year gets underway
The Romania-Italy Cultural Year was today presented in the Italian Parliament. On this occasion, dozens of events dedicated to Romanian culture in Italy and Italian culture in Romania will take place. Romania’s Ambassador to Rome, Gabriela Dancău, said that “the close ties between Romania and Italy is not a coincidence of history, but a conscious, reiterated and profoundly European choice”.
According to the Romanian ambassador, the Romania-Italy Cultural Year represents a commitment to a common future, an exercise in reciprocity and a concrete manifestation of shared belonging in Europe. Held under the high patronage of the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, and the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, the Romania-Italy Cultural Year is structured in two complementary semesters. The Romanian inaugural semester will open on December 1, Romania’s National Day, with a gala concert performed by the Bucharest National Opera at the Opera House in Rome. (VP)
