Romania plans to deepen defense cooperation with Moldova
According to the Austrian publication Militaeraktuell citing Colonel Cristian Popovici, head of the Romanian Defense Ministry’s Information and Public Relations Department, bilateral relations will be developed both directly and through EU and NATO mechanisms.
Special attention will be paid to training, strengthening cyber security, defense against hybrid threats and integration with European defense standards. Candidate status for European Union accession and the start of accession negotiations provide an additional platform for enhanced cooperation in line with EU policies and instruments.
“In this context, the security and defense partnership between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, as well as the civilian mission under the Common Security and Defense Policy (EUPM Moldova) contribute to the stability of the region and the modernization of the Moldovan security sector. Moreover, Romania actively supports initiatives through the European Peace Foundation (EPF),” Popovici said.
According to him, an important direction will be the closer connection of security with strategic infrastructure:
“EU-supported interconnection projects – for example, the Moțca (Iasi) – Ungheni (Moldova) road section funded through the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument – reflect the EU’s concept of dual-use infrastructure. Such infrastructure can support both economic development and military mobility.
Further development of cooperation will depend on joint priorities, institutional achievements and the situation in the region. In general, however, according to Christian Popović, the direction remains clear: systematic, stability-oriented cooperation.
