MApN's Moldovan: 2025 defence budget provides 8.7 billion euros, representing 2.3% of GDP

   The defence budget for 2025 provides 8.7 billion euro, accounting for 2.3 percent of GDP, of which 29 percent, namely 2.5 billion euro allocated to major procurement of equipment and associated research activities, Secretary of State with the National Defence Ministry (MApN) and head of the Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations Sorin-Dan Moldovan said on Wednesday at a specialist event."For 2025, the defence budget provides 8.7 billion euros, representing 2.3 percent of GDP, of which 29 percent, or 2.5 billion euros, is earmarked for major equipment procurement and associated research activities. According to the 2025 state budget law approved before The Hague Summit, the average share of the defence budget for 2026-2028 is 2.52 percent of GDP, roughly 32.3 billion euros. Within this, the average share of procurement is 38 percent, or 12.4 billion euros," the state secretary of the MApN said.According to him, the national budget will be used to modernise and strengthen the country's defence, however "a decisive factor will be the European Union's SAFE instrument, through the allocation of around 16.7 billion euros for Romania."Sorin-Dan Moldovan also said that the priority for the defence industry is supported by the commitments and determination of the Romanian authorities in agreement with the collective pledges made at the NATO Summit in The Hague, under which allocations will gradually reach up to 5 percent of GDP by 2035."As is known, it is about 3.5 percent of GDP for defence and 1.5 percent of GDP for infrastructure. Romania is fully committed to this direction. There will be a gradual increase in defence allocations in the coming years," the state secretary mentioned.He added that, from this perspective, strengthening the national defence industry has been set as a strategic objective for Romania and defined both in the government programme and in the national defence strategy."All available instruments and opportunities, including Romania's strategic partnerships with NATO allies and EU partners, as well as with global and regional partners sharing similar visions, values and interests, will be used to their full potential in order to support the development of the national defence industry," the MApN state secretary underlined.The first edition of the international conference MAKE it in ROMANIA, an event dedicated to strengthening the national defence industry, was organized on Wednesday in Bucharest by TNT Productions Romania with the support of Hanwha Aerospace, ROMARM, Tehnonav and Posta Romana, under the aegis of Black Sea Defense & Aerospace (BSDA), the largest defence and security expo-conference in South-East Europe.The event brings together more than 700 participants from 23 countries, including representatives of the Romanian Government, European financial institutions and local authorities, alongside international and local companies from the defence industry and complementary sectors.The conference sessions tackle the entire process of developing the capabilities of the national defence industry, from identifying operational needs and accessing financing mechanisms to concluding partnerships and integrating civilian industries into dual-use production.