On August 28, 2024, the Romanian Ministry of Defense released a draft law proposing the purchase of 32 F-35A stealth fighters through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, a government-to-government agreement facilitated by the U.S. Department of Defense. This proposed acquisition, estimated at $6.5 billion, would represent Romania’s largest military purchase since 1989. This program is viewed by Romania as a crucial step in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities as a NATO member, with additional aircraft purchases anticipated after 2024.
In recent years, Romania has actively strengthened its military infrastructure, including hosting NATO radar systems near the Black Sea to monitor regional developments. Amid these efforts, Romanian defense officials have voiced concerns over the potential escalation with Russia, underlining the need for preparedness in case of further Russian advances into Ukraine. Additionally, the country faces domestic political uncertainty ahead of the 2024 elections, where a possible rise in far-right influence could affect its policies within the European Union.