On Sunday 25 October 2026, President Nicușor Dan marked Romanian Army Day at the 86th Air Base “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță” in Borcea, Călărași County. In his address he said Romania would act with NATO allies and European partners to deter and, if necessary, neutralize threats at the country’s borders.

He tied the message to the regional security picture. According to Digi24, he warned that Russia’s war against Ukraine is generating unprecedented threats in the Black Sea that reach Romania’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone and endanger security and freedom of navigation.

Dan also spoke about investment without announcing a new budget figure. He said Romania has and will have a solid defence budget in line with its NATO commitments, and that spending should cover both working conditions and professional development for service members and the modernisation of equipment and training with allies.

The president stressed the link between the armed forces and the economy. Through the SAFE programme, he said, Romania produces and procures modern military kit while investing in Romanian factories, creating jobs and building infrastructure useful to both the army and civilians. Rebuilding the defence industry and equipping the forces, he argued, belong together.

Choosing Borcea was deliberate. Dan congratulated the base for a recent intervention in which it shot down two hostile drones in Romanian airspace and highlighted the European F-16 Training Centre, which has turned the site into a regional hub for Romanian, allied and partner pilots.

He closed by thanking Spanish allies now flying air-policing missions with Romanian pilots, and other allied troops training in Romania. The Borcea speech states priorities and commitments; it is not a new law and it does not replace Thursday’s 22 October CSAT sitting.

Sources: Nicușor Dan, de Ziua Armatei: „Războiul Rusiei împotriva Ucrainei generează amenințări fără precedent la Marea Neagră” | Digi24; Nicușor Dan, de Ziua Armatei României: Vom avea un buget solid pentru apărare, conform angajamentelor din cadrul NATO | Mediafax