Romania to beef up military spending due to Russia
BUCHAREST- Romania's defense minister says his country will be strengthening its defenses after being faced with Russia's growing military presence in the Black Sea.
Mihnea Motoc told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the NATO member will start spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense by 2017, something the military alliance wants all members to do.
The Social Democrats, who won a parliamentary election this weekend, say they will respect Romania's international agreements.
Motoc, a member of Romania's outgoing technocratic government, said Russia's military capabilities in the Black Sea "have strengthened considerably in recent years. ... I don't believe you can remain indifferent to this."
