The Agreement aims to enhance Moldova’s resilience, address security challenges and explore new areas of cooperation with E.U.
Moldova has signed a security and defence agreement with the European Union (E.U.), to enhance the country’s resilience, jointly address common security challenges and explore new areas of cooperation.
Moldova, which lies between Ukraine, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and Romania, is the first non-E.U. country to form such an agreement. Led by pro-European President Maia Sandu, Moldova hopes to join the E.U. by 2030. It has strongly condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine and angered Russia by pushing to join the E.U. in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Moldova and the E.U. Moldova has been an EU candidate country since 2022.
Taking it to X, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs – Josep Borrell Fontelles, tweeted,
Moldova is the first country to sign a Security & Defence Partnership with the EU.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 21, 2024
This partnership will enhance the country's resilience.
It will allow to jointly address common security challenges, make our engagement more effective and explore new areas of cooperation. pic.twitter.com/LXFurbs6oa
He further tweeted,
EU stands in full solidarity w/ Moldova.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 22, 2024
The EU-Moldova Security & Defence Partnership will open new areas of cooperation including on cybersecurity, countering hybrid threats, #FIMI & disinfo.
We'll jointly address security challenges & further enhance Moldova’s resilience.
3/3
The Prime Minister of Moldova – Dorin Recean, tweeted,
There cannot be any better mechanism to ensure peace & stability for 🇲🇩citizens than becoming an EU Member State.
— Dorin Recean (@DorinRecean) May 21, 2024
Until then, the signing of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership is a step forward, enhancing our peace, security, and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/Ikts9m18Mt
The partnership would serve as an umbrella arrangement for all interactions between the Republic of Moldova. The 28-point partnership plan takes account of an increasingly challenging security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calls for consultations in a wide range of sectors. These include cyber threats, disinformation, counter-terrorism and enhancing Moldova’s national security, stability and resilience in the defence sector. Moldova and the E.U. would also cooperate on border management, curbing human trafficking and organised crime, and cooperation in international forums.
Earlier in March’24, Sandu entered into a defence cooperation agreement with France, highlighting concerns over Russia’s renewed attempts to destabilise Moldova. He cautioned that failing to halt Russia’s advances in Ukraine would lead to further aggression. Moldova gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and its relations with Moscow deteriorated during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Besides, the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin has vowed to support Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia after meeting the territory’s pro-Moscow leader. Russia also has 1,500 soldiers based in Moldova’s pro-Moscow separatist region of Transnistria, a thin swathe of land between Moldova and Ukraine that broke away in 1992 after a brief conflict.
