March 1 (SeeNews) - Romania needs to increase defence expenditure to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and ensure its energy independence, president Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday, as the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine entered into its fifth day.
"We have defined two strategic objectives. First of all, to increase the defense capability of the Romanian state. In this regard, I believe that it is necessary to increase the percentage of GDP allocated to defense expenditure from 2%, as it is at present, to 2.5%," Iohannis said during a live-streamed news conference following a meeting of the National Defence Council (CSAT).
It is also necessary to achieve Romania's energy independence, mainly through the development of renewable and nuclear energy, the president added.
Romania started to allocate 2% of GDP to defence in 2017, complying with a NATO spending target established at the 2014 summit in Wales.
Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, has said it plans to spend a total of 9.8 billion euro until 2026 to boost its defence capabilities.
($=0.8943 euro)