ISLAMABAD (MNN); Romania and Pakistan are committed to further strengthening their military and defence cooperation, Romanian Ambassador to Pakistan said while addressing a reception marking Romania’s Armed Forces Day in Islamabad.
The event was attended by Air Marshal Shakeel Ghazanfer, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Projects), diplomats, senior military officers, high-ranking government officials and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Romanian ambassador said October 25 was an important national occasion on which Romania paid tribute to its armed forces, honouring their historic achievements and the dedication of serving military personnel.
Highlighting Romania’s commitment to NATO and the European Union, the ambassador described the transatlantic partnership as a cornerstone of the Alliance’s strength, security and stability. He said the longstanding US presence in Europe had contributed significantly to peace, cooperation and the protection of democratic values.
Referring to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the ambassador said the deteriorating European security environment had prompted substantial investment in the equipment and modernisation of European armed forces.
He said Romania aimed to allocate 3.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to direct defence investment and another 1.5 per cent to indirect defence and security-related expenditure by 2035, in line with commitments made at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.
The ambassador said Romania was also benefiting from European Union funding mechanisms under the Readiness 2030 initiative. He highlighted an allocation of €16.68 billion to Romania under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, which is intended to accelerate defence procurement and promote industrial cooperation.
He said modernising the Romanian armed forces remained a strategic priority, with investments focused on air and missile defence, combat aviation, land and naval forces, unmanned systems, counter-drone technology, military infrastructure, logistics and the domestic defence industry.
Growing Security Challenges in the Black Sea
Discussing regional security, the ambassador said the Black Sea had become increasingly important amid Russia’s military actions against Georgia and Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He expressed concern over Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube near Romania’s border, which, he said, had resulted in unauthorised drone incursions into Romanian airspace.
According to the ambassador, such incidents increased threefold during the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period of the previous year. He said Romanian Air Force aircraft had shot down four drones for the first time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
He warned that aerial and maritime drone incidents, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns posed growing challenges to regional security and tested the resilience of NATO allies.
The ambassador reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to strengthening NATO’s collective deterrence and defence capabilities, while contributing to military missions and operations under the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy.
He identified Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans as priority regions for Romania’s peace and stability efforts. He also reiterated Bucharest’s support for the Republic of Moldova’s European integration ambitions, including its goal of joining the European Union by 2030.
Romania Reaffirms Support for Ukraine
The ambassador said Romania would continue providing multidimensional support to Ukraine and remain engaged with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, including its capability coalitions.
He added that Romania was participating in the training of Ukrainian military personnel under the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA), with further training opportunities to be developed in coordination with Kyiv.
Pakistan-Romania Military Ties on an Upward Trajectory
Turning to bilateral relations, the ambassador said military cooperation between Pakistan and Romania had strengthened over the years and was developing into a mutually beneficial partnership.
He highlighted the fourth session of the Pakistan-Romania Joint Military Committee, held in Islamabad in February 2026, which discussed prospects for enhanced defence cooperation.
The discussions covered joint counterterrorism training, Air Force training courses, exchanges of experience in military education, joint naval training and defence industry cooperation. The two sides also exchanged views on the security situations in the Black Sea and South Asia, as well as current international developments.
The ambassador expressed confidence that the discussions would translate into practical initiatives to further strengthen defence ties between the two countries.
He also noted Romania’s continued participation in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), through the contribution of military observers.
Paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces, the ambassador praised the country’s continued efforts to promote regional peace and stability, the professionalism and dedication of its military personnel, and their sacrifices in combating terrorism.
He also acknowledged Pakistan’s participation in international coalitions and operations involving peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and efforts to alleviate human suffering in different parts of the world.
Concluding his address, the Romanian ambassador expressed goodwill for the friendship between the two countries, saying: “Romania-Pakistan dosti zindabad.”
