Romania’s Military Capabilities in 2025: Strategic Relevance at NATO’s Eastern Flank

As one of NATO’s key front-line states bordering Ukraine and the Black Sea, Romania has gained increasing strategic significance in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A member of both NATO and the European Union, Romania plays a dual role as both a potential forward staging ground for allied operations and a crucial component in the Black Sea security architecture. This article examines Romania’s military capabilities in 2025, including the structure of her armed forces, modernisation efforts, strategic assets, and her role in NATO.

Ground Forces: Structure and Readiness

Romania’s Land Forces are the largest branch of her military, with an estimated 57,000 active-duty troops and around 45,000 reservists. The structure includes:

• Infantry brigades: Romania maintains several mechanised and motorised infantry brigades, many of which are NATO-interoperable.

• Armoured vehicles: The mainstay of the Romanian armored force is the TR-85M1 “Bizonul” tank, a modernized version of the Cold War-era T-55. Romania is also procuring Piranha V armoured personnel carriers from General Dynamics and is transitioning away from Soviet-era equipment.

• Artillery and support: Romania’s artillery forces are in the process of modernization, with some recent acquisitions including CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from France and indigenous upgrades to multiple rocket launcher systems.

Challenges:

• Romania lacks a modern main battle tank in large numbers and continues to depend on upgraded Soviet-era legacy platforms.

• Some infantry units still rely on outdated Soviet-era equipment, though modernisation efforts are ongoing.

Air Force: Transition and Modernisation

The Romanian Air Force is in the midst of a significant modernisation drive. It currently operates:

• F-16 Fighting Falcons: Romania has acquired a total of 49 F-16s, including second-hand jets from Portugal and Norway, and has integrated them with NATO air policing missions.

• Air defence systems: Romania has deployed Patriot missile defence batteries, with additional batteries scheduled to come into service into 2026 following approval of a US$280 million sale to Romania of Patriot defence missiles by the US Department of State in late April 2025. These significantly bolster Romania’s air defence in conjunction with NATO’s integrated air and missile defence network.

• Radar and surveillance: Romania has been investing in advanced radar networks and C4ISR (NATO-standard command, control, communications computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance - the centre of of military operations) capabilities to enhance her airspace monitoring and command responsiveness.

Naval Forces: A Black Sea Weak Spot

Romania’s naval forces are relatively small but strategically located, with a home base at Constanța, on the Black Sea coast. This allows naval access to the Black Sea without passing the Strait of Bosphorus; the Montreux Convention entitles Türkiye to prohibit the passage of military vessels through the Strait of Bosphorus during times of war. The Danube-Black Sea canal allows passage of vessels through Romania to the Black Sea without passage through the Strait of Bosphorus, but is currently neither wide nor deep enough to permit the passage of most naval vessels. Hence for unrestricted Black Sea access, the port of Constanța is essential as a NATO centre.

The Romanian Navy includes:

• Three frigates: Two Type 22 frigates (Regina Maria and Regele Ferdinand) and one domestically produced.

• Corvettes: A modernisation project to build four new SIGMA-class corvettes (a warship class with combat, patrol and merchant shipping escort capacities) with Naval Group (a French shipyard in Ollioules) has been delayed due to procurement issues, but remains on the strategic agenda.

• Submarines: Romania currently has no operational submarines, though there are plans to acquire at least two Western-designed vessels by the end of the decade.

• Mine warfare and patrol: A modest fleet of minehunters and patrol vessels contributes to coastal security and NATO maritime operations.

Challenges:

• The Romanian Navy lacks the capacity for deep-sea operations and remains limited in terms of anti-submarine warfare.

• Delays in naval procurement could hinder regional balance in the Black Sea.

Strategic Role and NATO Integration

• Black Sea security: Romania is one of the few NATO countries with direct access to the Black Sea. Her ports and bases have become increasingly important as logistical hubs for aid to Ukraine and as locations for the deployment of allied forces.

• NATO Forward Presence: Romania hosts NATO’s Multinational Division South-East Headquarters in Bucharest and a forward battle group established under the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence framework, led by France with contributions from Belgium, the Netherlands, and others.

• Aegis Ashore: Romania hosts the US Aegis Ashore missile defense system at Deveselu, which is a key component of NATO’s missile shield and a major strategic asset.

Defence Budget and Modernisation Goals

Romania committed to raising its defence spending to up to 2.5% of GDP in 2023, surpassing NATO’s 2% benchmark. Key priorities include:

• Acquisition of Abrams M1A2 tanks from the United States

• Investment in indigenous military production and R&D

• Continued procurement of NATO-standard weapons systems and logistical support capabilities

Comparative Assessment and Strategic Outlook

Compared with regional powers like Poland or France, Romania’s military remains modest in size and technological depth. However her geographical location and political commitment to NATO make Romania a vital ally in Eastern Europe.

Strengths:

• Strong political and popular support for NATO integration

• Ongoing modernisation with Western weapons systems

• Strategic ports and logistical infrastructure

Weaknesses:

• Dependence on outdated platforms in key areas

• Limited naval and air combat power

• Procurement delays and bureaucratic inefficiencies

Future Role in Ukraine Peacekeeping or Stabilisation

Should a ceasefire or peacekeeping mission emerge in Ukraine, Romania would likely play a front-line logistical and operational role, particularly in:

• Securing borders and humanitarian corridors

• Hosting and supporting multinational forces

• Providing engineering and civil-military coordination

Romania’s proximity and political alignment make her a natural candidate for such missions, although her limited expeditionary capabilities may cap the scale of her deployments.

Romania’s Defence Industry: Modernisation and Strategic Development

Romania is actively revitalising her defence industry to enhance self-reliance and contribute more significantly to NATO’s collective defence. Key initiatives include:

• National Defence Industry Strategy 2024–2030: This strategy emphasises the importance of offset contracts in major procurement programmes, facilitating technology transfers and bolstering local production capabilities.

• Major Procurement Programmes: Romania is investing in modern military equipment, such as South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and KP-SAM man-portable air defence systems, to replace outdated Soviet-era systems.

• Naval Modernisation: Following delays in the deal with France’s Naval Group, Romania’s Supreme Defence Council approved plans to acquire new small warships to strengthen her Black Sea presence.

• Damen Shipyard in Galați, Romania, will construct six next-generation Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates for the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Naval Forces. Construction will commence in the summer of 2025, with delivery of the vessels scheduled between 2028 and 2032.

• Defence Budget Allocation: In 2025, Romania allocated €8.55 billion to defence, representing 2.24% of her GDP, with plans to increase this to 2.5%. Approximately 32.25% of this budget is dedicated to acquiring major military equipment.

Defence Cooperation with France, Germany, and Poland

France:

France and Romania collaborate closely within NATO frameworks. Notably France leads the NATO battlegroup stationed in Romania, enhancing regional security. Additionally France participates in Romania-led NATO naval exercises, such as Sea Shield 25 (a NATO Black Sea joint training exercise in 2025), contributing maritime patrol aircraft to bolster Black Sea security.

Germany:

Germany and Romania engage in defence cooperation through NATO and EU initiatives. While specific bilateral projects are less prominent, both countries contribute to NATO’s eastern flank security and participate in joint exercises and strategic planning within the alliance.

Poland:

Romania and Poland share a strong defence partnership, rooted in common security concerns. Both nations are active members of the Bucharest Nine (B9) group, focusing on enhancing NATO’s eastern flank security. They also collaborate within the Three Seas Initiative, aiming to improve regional infrastructure and defence capabilities.