Nicusor Dan Plans NATO Talks

President-elect Nicusor Dan announced on Tuesday his intention to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte before the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague, CE Report quotes Agerpres

Dan emphasized the importance of aligning Romania's defense spending with NATO goals, referencing his proposal to increase military expenditure to 3.5% of GDP by 2030. “We’ll try to align with the gradual, GDP-proportional increase Mr. Rutte is coordinating,” he told PRO TV.

Acknowledging Romania’s unbalanced budget, Dan noted that under normal circumstances, boosting defense spending wouldn’t be ideal. However, he stressed that the war near Romania’s borders demands a greater commitment to deterrence. “To ensure peace, it’s fair to contribute proportionally with NATO allies—even those further from the conflict—because Russia is a threat to all of Europe,” he said.

Dan also shared that he will meet with U.S. Embassy officials on Wednesday to strengthen Romania’s strategic partnership with the United States.