The law on the national defence industry has been promulgated

A decree on the law on the national defence industry has been signed by president Klaus Iohannis.

Daniela Budu, 22.11.2016, 13:20

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has
signed a decree on the promulgation of a law on the national defence industry.
The law, which was passed by the decision-making Senate last week, is
regulating the organisation of this sector on strategic domains, in terms of
streamlining and regrouping of capabilities, boosting investment and
competitiveness and diversifying products specific to the field as well as
involvement in the activities of the European defence industry.

President Klaus Iohannis has said he is
not concerned about the way in which US president elect Donald Trump refers to
NATO, and is convinced that Romania’s relation with the United States will
continue in good terms. Relations will be partly redefined, partly changed,
but that doesn’t mean they will be worse, they can be better.

In my opinion, the USA will continue to
play the same role it has played so far, of being the largest NATO member with
the most significant involvement in many regions, either with conflicts or not
Iohannis added referring to Donald Trump’s statements in the election campaign.
At that time Trump suggested that he would not defend the Baltic countries in
case of a conflict, but would first assess their contribution to NATO.

The Romanian president said that it was
necessary that the member states allotted 2% of the GDP as Trump had also
required, and that might wake some people up. Iohannis recalled that in
January 2015, he proposed to parties to raise budget funds for defence to 2% of
the GDP. Trump has said the same thing, namely that everyone should bring their
defence spending up to the sum established together.

At present only five EU countries have
met this NATO objective and have earmarked 2% of the GDP for defence, whereas
10 others have established clear roadmaps to meet this objective in the future.
This means that only half of the members are presently allotting enough funds
for their troops’ training and equipment. Romania has raised its defence
spending by half billion dollars this year as compared to 2009, the country
ranking third among the NATO countries in terms of providing equipment to their
armed forces, says a report published by the Alliance. At the same time,
Romania’s spending related to the GDP stay is estimated at 1.48%.

Romania also comes tenth as troop force
inside NATO, with 70,000 soldiers. Furthermore, in 2009 the country allotted
2.2 billion dollars for the defence budget, while the sum envisaged for 2016 is
500 million higher than seven years ago, placing it ahead countries like the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary.