Military spending - Central European Times

Record budget for defence requested in Romania

1 min read Romania, Defence, defence spending, record, Military spending, F-35, Abrahms

Romania’s Ministry of Defence has requested a record budget for 2026, seeking 57 billion lei in direct allocations.

Destroyed residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, after a Russian missile rocket attack

War fatigue in the region: how perceptions of the conflict in Ukraine have changed

3 min read V4 & Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine crisis, war, Defence, Military spending, public support

Public attitudes toward the war in Ukraine vary highly and have shifted significantly across the CEE region.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl‑Reisinger speaks to members of the press

Austria should consider NATO membership - Meinl‑Reisinger

2 min read Beate Meinl‑Reisinger, Die Welt, Austria, NATO, Partnership for Peace, Karl Nehammer, Russia, Ukraine invasion, Military spending, czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Strategic Compass

Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-standing neutrality and joined NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively, citing heightened security threats from Russia. Austria, bordered by NATO members Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, is increasingly the odd one out in Central Europe’s defence landscape.