Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said on Wednesday that being a well-adapted nation in these times meant having a strong economy, and that a solid defence or a powerful army could not exist without a strong economy.

He spoke at the 14th edition of the Aspen – GMF Bucharest Forum, organised by Aspen Institute Romania in partnership with The German Marshall Fund of the United States and Aspen Institute Romania – Chisinau Office, under the High Patronage of the Romanian President.

Referring to this year’s Forum theme, „The Disintegration of the World Order: Survival of the Fittest”, Mosteanu highlighted the current global challenges, starting with the war in Ukraine.

„Three and a half, four years ago, no one would have imagined we would face such a complex environment and such blurred lines between peace and war. Even last night, drones approached Tulcea and our aircraft were scrambled – those drones could have entered our territory. Are we at peace or at war? Yesterday, the Romanian Intelligence Service prevented some explosions on our soil. As far as we know, we are not at war with anyone, but how should we define these actions – peace or war?” Mosteanu said, according to the organisers’ translation.

He also referred to Russia’s attempts to influence Romania’s elections last year.

„The fact that a certain Eastern country, whose name starts with R, Russia, meddled in elections in Romania, Moldova and other countries in the region, using various social media platforms in dishonest ways – is that peace or war?” he added.

Mosteanu emphasised that the lines are blurred, and institutions, communities, and international partners are all confronted with this reality.

„What does it mean to be the fittest when rules are replaced by force, dialogue by disinformation, diplomacy by coercion? The fittest is the most resilient, not necessarily the one with the strongest army, the largest units, or the most powerful allies. We are in this position, and God bless us, because we made one of the best decisions a few years ago by joining NATO. This defence umbrella allows every Romanian to sleep safely, work safely, and live safely with their family, protected by our Army and our allies,” he said.

The Defence Minister stressed that it is healthy to have concerns about the surrounding environment to be better prepared.

„You know the saying: expect the best, but prepare for the worst. That is exactly what we are doing with all our allies,” Mosteanu said.

He also highlighted the importance of allied troops stationed in Romania from countries including the USA, France, Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg, as well as Romanian troops deployed in Eastern and Western Balkans as international partners.

„That is what it means to be adapted – to be in the great game with strong allies alongside you. Being a well-adapted nation today means having a strong economy; you cannot maintain a solid defence or a powerful army without a strong economy. That is why we rely on and respect everyone who works, invests, and brings resources into Romania, paying taxes and keeping the economy running. That is how we maintain a strong army and meet our international commitments,” he said.

Mosteanu also outlined the need to strengthen and improve the defence industry base in Europe and in Romania.

„We must achieve technology transfer here, so we become more resilient and better prepared for the future. Having a defence industry in our country means we are strong and solid, ready for the unexpected and able to face difficult times,” the minister further said. AGERPRES