CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION Released under the provisions of Law no. 203/2015 on Defense Planning, the Military Strategy of Romania renders operational the defense dimension established in the National Defense Strategy for 2015-2019, specifies the implementation of objectives in the Governing Programme at the military level, and describes the ways and concepts derived from the provisions of the White Paper on Defense 2016. The starting point of the Military Strategy of Romania is the extended approach to national security, in which defense is merged and mutually balanced with the dimensions of law enforcement, intelligence, counterintelligence and security, diplomacy, crisis management, education, health, economy, energy, and demographics. Thus, the military instrument adapts its principles, missions, force structure, and capabilities to the new changes in the security context. Based on the assessment of potential military risks and threats, the Military Strategy outlines in detail the way that missions of the Romanian Armed Forces are carried out, and the guidelines for the configuration of the force structure in accordance with the defense policy objectives listed in the White Paper on Defense. It outlines the main missions of the military for a timeframe of four years, with medium and long term perspectives. Complementary to the other defense planning documents at the national and departmental levels, the Military Strategy is based on compliance with the National Political Agreement on Increased Defense Resources, on the implementation of the provisions of the Program on the Transformation, Development, and Procurement of the Romanian Armed Forces until 2016, and it takes into account the influences determined by the implementation of Allied reassuring and adjustment measures. The meaning of the main concepts and terminology used throughout this document is equivalent to the definitions presented in the Guide on the National Defense Strategy of Romania. CHAPTER 2 - POTENTIAL MILITARY RISKS AND THREATS Developments in the area of global security attest to the return of power politics, threatening, and military intervention performed on independent and sovereign states. The military instrument continues to remain a means to expand influence, to defend national interests, and to promote foreign policy objectives. The cumulated factors, which make a complex and extremely dynamic security environment, require the implementation of measures on several levels, in which the military one regains relevance. Europe is facing major challenges, with unpredictable consequences on its security. On the one hand, it is necessary to identify a coherent solution to respond to Russian Federation and hybrid threats’ actions, which are more and more persistent at the eastern border, and on the other hand it is necessary to manage the wave of migrants from areas of instability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). At the regional level, certain states of tension persist. They are determined by both the tendency of state actors to undertake actions based on the logic of spheres of influence, by taking control in areas of strategic importance, and maintaining old ethnic, religious, or separatist disputes, thus challenging existing borders. The probable evolution of these tensions on the eastern border of Romania may generate a potential for conflict with a major impact on the security of our country. In the following period of time, trends in the security environment will probably follow the line of continued efforts for stabilization in areas affected by conflicts of various degrees of intensity in the context of confrontation between important geopolitical actors. The military dimension will constitute a fundamental element in the process of resolving security issues. Risks and threats of a military nature aiming at the security of Romania exist on several levels. As a NATO and EU member state, we have the obligation to participate in ensuring our national security and the security of our allies. At the same time, at the regional 7