Moșteanu’s resignation just months into the job follows the ousting of Dovilė Šakalienė as Lithuania’s defense minister over a dispute about the Baltic country’s defense budget — and as Europe mulls how to respond to intensifying Russian hybrid attacks.
Romania’s Economy Minister Radu Miruță is expected to take over the defense portfolio on an interim basis, the government said.
Moșteanu’s departure comes with Romania facing regular Russian drone incursions. Bucharest is also 48 hours away from a deadline for EU countries to submit a plan to the European Commission for how they will spend money from the EU’s loans-for-weapons SAFE program.
Romania is set to be the second-largest beneficiary of the scheme, in line for a €16.6 billion pot of cash.