BUCHAREST, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Romania's defence ministry said late on Tuesday it has cancelled a long-delayed deal to buy four warships from French firm Naval Group after the company and a junior partner failed to meet a deadline to sign a contract. Defence firm Naval Group won the contract to build four Gowind navy corvettes for Romania and renovate two existing frigates for 1.2 billion euros ($1.32 billion) in 2019 in partnership with Romanian company Santierul Naval Constanta. But the deal was held up, first by legal challenges and then by the two companies failing to reach an understanding concerning rising costs. The country, a NATO state since 2004 and EU member since 2007, has ramped up its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP this year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ($1 = 0.9110 euros)Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Luiza Ilie, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Naval Group, Defence, Santierul, NATO battlegroup, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian, Santierul Naval Constanta, NATO, Ukraine, France