Romania offers to do more for NATO, US security, President says

Romania is not asking the United States for more, but rather offering to do more, President Nicușor Dan stated in an editorial for Fox News. He emphasized that Romania is prepared to assume a more significant role within NATO and its strategic partnership with the U.S., viewing this as a responsibility that accompanies gratitude for American leadership.

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Russia is a growing threat that America and Europe cannot afford to ignore.

Dan highlighted the escalating threat posed by Russia, noting that the risks are not theoretical for Romania, which borders Ukraine and lies on NATO's eastern flank. He pointed to repeated violations of Romanian airspace by drones and cited intelligence reports suggesting Russia might test NATO's resolve. "Russia is a growing threat that America and Europe cannot afford to ignore," he wrote.

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Romania is not asking America for more. Romania is offering to do more.

The president detailed Romania's commitment to strengthening its NATO commitments and its willingness to take on greater responsibilities. He specifically mentioned Romania's plan to spend 5% of its GDP on defense by 2035, underscoring its proactive approach to security.

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We are grateful for American leadership and understand that gratitude must be accompanied by responsibility.

Furthermore, Dan outlined Romania's ongoing military modernization projects, including significant investments at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base, estimated between 2.5 and 3 billion euros. He explained that Romania is developing a military logistics network connecting air bases, ports, roads, and training grounds to facilitate the rapid mobilization of NATO and U.S. forces in the region. He also listed Romania's adoption of U.S. military systems, such as Patriot air and missile defense, HIMARS, F-16s, Abrams tanks, and planned F-35As, as a strategic decision to ensure interoperability and readiness.

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The United States is right to expect Europe to carry more of its own defense, and Romania supports this expectation with money and actions, including the threshold of spending 5% of GDP for defense by 2035.