The defense budget should reach 2% of the GDP starting with 2017, said President Klaus Iohannis on Monday, January 12. He added that he has gathered political consensus on such an agreement from all the parties in the Parliament.

"Europe and NATO are facing the biggest security challenge since the Cold War ended. For the first time, a state uses force to redraw borders. All these are happening near our border and cannot be ignored," the president said, cited by local Mediafax.

The 2% level should be considered a minimum and should be kept for at least ten years, during 2017-2027, he also added.

editor@romania-insider.com