Political consultations for Romania’s security
Parliamentary parties in Romania believe that additional investments in defense are necessary, but do not want Romanian troops in Ukraine
Daniela Budu, 27.02.2025, 13:50
Interim President Ilie Bolojan held consultations with representatives of the parliamentary parties to define Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council on March 6, a summit expected to bring important decisions on European security. Both the ruling and opposition parties rejected the scenario of Bucharest sending peacekeeping troops to neighboring Ukraine. The co-ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) does not agree with Romania sending troops and is in favor of allocating additional funds for defense, in the form of investments in the national arms industry.
In a statement, party leader and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu proposes excluding defense spending from the calculation of the budget deficit. The National Liberal Party (PNL) also supports higher defense investment, but believes that in the context of diplomatic talks on the ceasefire, the topic of participating with peacekeeping troops is premature.
The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR), also a member of the ruling coalition, believes that Romania should invest in modern military capabilities. Party president Kelemen Hunor has stated that he does not agree with sending Romanian soldiers to Ukraine.
Kelemen Hunor: “Security guarantees must be ensured, including through the United States, and Romania can provide logistical and infrastructural support for Ukraine, for the European Union states and for those who wish to be more actively involved, but without troops in Ukraine.”
From the opposition, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) is also against sending troops to the neighboring country. The leader of the group, George Simion has said:
“The only solution at this moment is a ceasefire, by observing all international agreements and security guarantees that Romania and all countries in the region must benefit from.”
The opposition Save Romania Union (USR) believes that Romania must invest more in defense and emphasizes the need for a clear plan for participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
The sovereignists from SOS Romania do not want Romanian troops in Ukraine either and are against the continuation of the war.
Meanwhile, the Senate in Bucharest has adopted, as a decision-making body, a bill that allows the shooting down of drones that illegally enter Romanian airspace and another that regulates the way military missions in Romania are carried out in peacetime. One of the measures allows, for a limited period, the authority of some structures of the Romanian Army to be transferred to a commander of the allied military forces participating in these missions.
In this context, it should also be mentioned that the United States has announced a new investment at the Deveselu Base, in southern Romania, which hosts elements of the anti-missile shield. The Pentagon has published a notice of intent for a tender in order to establish special telecommunications links between the Deveselu anti-missile shield and other American bases in Europe, especially in Italy and Germany. (MI)
