Romania Seeks Record Defence Budget for 2026
Romania’s Ministry of Defence has submitted a request for a record defence budget for 2026, proposing direct funding that would amount to roughly 2.8 percent of GDP.
Bucharest’s Ministry of Defence has asked the government for its largest defence budget to date for fiscal year 2026, proposing direct allocations of approximately 57 billion Romanian lei, equivalent to about 2.81 percent of gross domestic product. In addition, the defence ministry has identified around 112 billion lei in commitment appropriations designed to fund long-term procurement projects beyond the annual budget cycle.
The request forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise Romania’s military capabilities and sustain major acquisition programmes, including planned purchases of F-35 fighter aircraft and Abrams main battle tanks. Such multiyear commitments support equipment modernisation and align with ongoing force transformation initiatives.
Romania has surpassed the NATO guideline of 2 percent of GDP on defence only in the last two budget cycles, with previous allocations below that benchmark between 2019 and 2023. The defence ministry’s 2026 request, if approved, would represent a further rise in military spending as a share of national output.
Defence analysts and former officials have argued that, as a frontline NATO member neighbouring Ukraine, Romania needs sustained investment and budgetary planning at higher levels, with some recommending expenditure closer to 2.75–3 percent of GDP to meet capability and readiness requirements. They have also called for increased parliamentary oversight and political engagement on long-term defence planning.
Senior military leaders have emphasised persistent strategic uncertainties in the Black Sea and Eastern European security environment. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, speaking in Sibiu, linked the deterrence effect of enhanced Romanian forces to the broader Alliance posture while noting that the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine and any future actions by Russia remain unpredictable. Romania’s Chief of Defence Staff similarly described Russia as an unpredictable actor and highlighted continued regional defence planning with Allies.
