Romania’s Defense Strategy, approved
"Independence in Solidarity " is the central concept of Romania's National Defense Strategy, approved by Parliament on Wednesday.
Roxana Vasile, 27.11.2025, 14:00
Romania’s National Defense Strategy for the next five years – presented in Parliament on Wednesday by President Nicuşor Dan – starts from the observation that Romania is going through one of the most difficult security periods since 1945, in an unstable global environment, marked by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the erosion of the rules-based international order. The document talks about Romania’s security from the perspective of citizens, noting internal vulnerabilities such as the reduced capacity of the administration, insufficient infrastructure, energy dependencies or corruption. The head of state specified that better coordination is needed between the institutions dealing with this latter phenomenon.
Nicuşor Dan: ʺExplicitly, the strategy provides for the involvement of intelligence services in collecting data on corruption, without crossing the border between the intelligence system and the justice system, and correcting the legislative and administrative mechanisms that delay the trial of corruption cases and give the public the feeling that nothing is happening in this area.ʺ
Externally, Russia is identified as the main threat to Romania’s security, both through conventional actions and hybrid methods, disinformation and cyber attacks. The strategy aims to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity, to protect citizens, strengthen the defense and deterrence posture, strengthen the international profile and develop the economy. It aims to consolidate strategic partnerships and strengthen Bucharest’s role within multilateral organizations and formats. Romania, said President Dan, will continue to support both the Republic of Moldova and neighboring Ukraine. The Romanians in the diaspora were also mentioned by the head of state as a huge plus for the mother country, by attracting them back home.
Parliament voted on the decision to approve the Defense Strategy with 315 votes ‘for’, 43 ‘against’ and 3 abstentions. From the governing coalition, Social Democratic deputy Mihai Fifor showed that the Strategy identifies risks, vulnerabilities and challenges, but also highlights opportunities that can transform Romania into a safer state. And the chairwoman of the Senate Defense Committee, liberal Nicoleta Pauliuc, showed that, after adoption, the Strategy must be implemented through public policies and explained to citizens. Votes for the National Defense Strategy also came from the opposition.
The Alliance for the Union of Romanians leader George Simion believes that the document should also have included, however, other concepts with an emphasis on citizens: ʺIt had to include, besides school dropout and civic activism, combating poverty. It had to include a food security strategy and an energy strategy for Romania.ʺ
The parliamentarians who opposed the Strategy argued that it is not about defending the country, its citizens, resources and rights, but would be the basis for establishing restrictions, obligations and secrecy of the state towards citizens. The implementation of the Strategy will not be public. (LS)
