Romanian President Nicușor Dan said Europe must send an unmistakable signal to Moscow that it is prepared to defend itself, even as it seeks to avoid war.
In an interview with France 24, he stressed that Romania and its partners do not want armed conflict in Europe but Russia must be clearly told that any attack would be met with readiness and resolve.
He said clarity and firmness were essential for deterrence.
Dan who defeated a NATO-skeptic candidate George Simion to win the May election ran on a pro-European, anti-corruption platform.
The initial presidential vote in November 2024 was annulled by Romania’s Constitutional Court over violations linked to the use of TikTok as a campaign tool, which benefited pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu in the first round.
Dan said the court’s decision was justified, arguing that Russian interference and breaches of campaign finance rules distorted the vote.
He says Moscow’s disinformation efforts in Romania date back a decade, but authorities underestimated their impact until new technologies amplified their effect in the final weeks of the campaign.
He noted that Romania, which shares a 640-kilometer border with Ukraine has sharply increased defense spending and is expected to rise to 2.5% in 2025.
Romania is also set to receive 16.7 billion euros through the EU’s SAFE program, which provides competitively priced loans for defense.
He said that in the current geopolitical environment, Europe must be able to defend itself quickly. While Romania has signed long-term contracts with US defense companies valid until 2033, he said the priority now is to strengthen Europe’s own defense industry.
He reaffirmed his strong support for Ukraine, describing the situation facing the Ukrainian people as tragic. He said Europe must continue backing Kyiv and demonstrate to Russia that support for Ukraine will be sustained over the long term, including through unconditional financial assistance.
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