February 14, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 14.02.2026, 19:40
Rating. Fitch Ratings on Friday affirmed Romania’s sovereign rating at ‘BBB-‘ with a Negative Outlook, the agency said in a statement. Romania’s BBB- rating is supported by the country’s EU membership and is related to the capital inflows that have supported income convergence and access to external financing. GDP per capita and governance are above other BBB category countries. These strengths are balanced against the large and persistent twin budget and current account deficits, increasing public debt, political polarisation and fairly high net external debt, the statement also reads. Fitch notes that the negative outlook reflects the continued deterioration of public finances due to large, albeit declining, fiscal deficits and rapidly rising government debt/GDP ratio. Household consumption will fall this year due to the prolonged fall in real disposable incomes. Nevertheless, investments will grow strongly, due to EU funds, reinforced by the increased grant component of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the agency believes. The factors that could lead to rating downgrade are related to failure to implement additional fiscal consolidation measures that would result in public debt stabilisation over the medium term, Fitch says.
Talks. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta met Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Saturday. “Romania will continue to remain firmly committed to efforts to deepen cooperation with Japan, both bilaterally and as part of NATO, in the context of common security risks in our region and the Indo-Pacific,” Minister Miruta said. The two ministers analysed the opportunities offered by the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Japan, launched in 2023, as well as the prospects for expanding cooperation, within the framework of the agreement.
Security Conference. The United States is ready to move to reinstating a new world order, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in remarks delivered at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He emphasised that his country is not trying to separate, but to revitalise the transatlantic relationship. On the other hand, Rubio said the West is destabilised by the impact of large-scale migration. Europe, which has depended on the US for its defence for decades, “needs to step up and has to take on its responsibility”, said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. She added that “a strong Europe makes for a stronger transatlantic alliance”. In his speech, British prime minister Keir Starmer emphasised the need for Europe to build its own “hard power” and be ready to fight if necessary. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced what he considered to be a defamatory portrayal of Europe as an outdated construct, as an over-regulated and apathetic economy and as a society affected by barbaric migration. Speaking in the opening of the summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for the restoration of transatlantic trust, damaged by US President Donald Trump. The Munich Security Conference, which will end on Sunday, is set to discuss topics like defence, international security, migration, the crisis in transatlantic relations, the war in Ukraine and the Iranian file.
Handball. Handball. The Romanian women’s handball champions, CSM Bucharest on Saturday defeated the Hungarian side FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 35-30 in an away match in the last but final leg of the Champions League Group B. CSM are now second in the group, behind Brest Bretagne of France. On the 21st February, they will face Ikast of Denmark at home. The two best ranked teams will go straight into the quarter-finals, while the rest will go into play-offs.
Tennis. Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse reached the main singles draw of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Dubai, worth over 4 million dollars in prize money, after defeating Peyton Stearns of the US in three sets on Saturday. In the doubles, Ruse will pair up with Jaqueline Cristian, who will also be playing in the singles. (CM)
