Romania and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in the defense materials field, a document that paves the way for joint acquisitions, co-development of military equipment, and integration of the Romanian industry into European projects.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Defense Minister, Radu Miruță, after a meeting in Berlin with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius.
"Romania should not be just a wagon pulled by others. Perhaps it should be one of the locomotives of this common European effort," Miruță stated.
The Declaration signed in Berlin: framework for cooperation on armament and logistics
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the official visit of the Romanian government delegation to Germany. According to the Defense Minister, the signed document establishes "a modern framework for cooperation in the defense materials field" between the two states.
"Romania has already proven to be a reliable partner for Germany, and today's meeting with my counterpart, Boris Pistorius, was open, practical, and solution-oriented. I thank him for the constructive dialogue that we agreed to continue in the coming period," Miruță wrote on Facebook.
Four key directions: joint acquisitions, co-development, and research
According to the Romanian minister, the partnership with Germany will focus on four main directions:
- unified logistic support,
- bilateral acquisitions of products and services,
- co-development of military equipment,
- research and development in defense technologies.
"It is a concrete step towards integrating the Romanian defense industry into European ecosystems," Miruță emphasized.
The SAFE program, the "train" Romania does not want to miss
The discussions in Berlin also focused on collaboration within the European SAFE program, considered by the Defense Minister as a major opportunity for modernizing the army.
"This program represents a huge opportunity: a train that Romania cannot afford to miss if it wants an army with modern equipment adapted to new realities," Miruță stated.
He specified that for some of the acquisitions introduced by Romania within SAFE, Germany is the leading state managing the procedures.
"It will mean a lower price for the acquisition and we expect shorter delivery times," the minister explained.
The Eastern flank, defense investments, and support for Ukraine
According to a statement from the MoD, the two ministers also discussed the strengthening of NATO's Eastern Flank security, strategic defense investments, and the implementation of decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in The Hague in June 2025.
"Bilateral defense cooperation between Romania and Germany materializes through concrete results and solid mutual support in NATO missions," the Romanian official conveyed.
The agenda also included "consistent, predictable, and long-term support" for Ukraine.
Military-level discussions: Air Policing and regional security
In parallel with the ministerial meeting, the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, had talks with his German counterpart, General Carsten Breuer. The discussions focused on operational cooperation and security developments in the region.
On this occasion, General Vlad thanked the German side for the participation of the German Air Force in the Enhanced Air Policing missions conducted on Romanian territory.