France affirmed on Thursday March 7 its “ unwavering support ” has “ independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity » from Moldova. The Moldovan president was received this Wednesday March 7 at the Élysée to conclude a defense agreement between the two countries.
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A week after the call from Transnistrian separatists for “ protection » from Moscow, which maintains 1,500 soldiers in this region bordering Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron and its counterpart Maia Sandu called, in a joint statement, on Russia to “ withdraw its forces illegally stationed on Moldovan territory “. Paris said it was ready to “ make your contribution, when the time comes, to a lasting and peaceful settlement of this conflict », frozen since 1992, at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revived the tensions in this strip of land of a little more than 4,000 km2, as in Moldova, “ faced with an intensification of hybrid attacks » according to the press release. Chisinau fears in particular a surge of disinformation in the run-up to the presidential election and the referendum on membership of the European Union, scheduled for the fall.
“Present a united front”
Neighboring Ukraine, Moldova only has a small defense budget. It has long had tense relations with Russia, which have increased sharply since February 2022. The government in Chisinau firmly supports Kiev while pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria, a narrow strip of land along the Ukrainian border, asked for support from Moscow. “ If we do not stop the aggressor, he will continue his aggression and the front line will continue to move closer. To get closer to us. To get closer to you », declared Maia Sandu, alongside Emmanuel Macron. “ Europe must therefore present a united front. Aggression must be repulsed with force », added the Moldovan president.
A signed agreement
“ The Moscow regime trying to control my country by means of energy blackmail, by organizing demonstrations, by carrying out cyberattacks (…) and even fomenting a coup d’état », declared Maia Sandu, during a press conference with Emmanuel Macron. Faced with these “ attempts at interference which aim to very clearly divide Moldovan society (…) France and the European Union stand by your side », replied the French president. “ The Moldovan people can be proud of their peaceful fight for freedom ” Who “ represents a challenge for Vladimir Putin’s Russia “, he insisted.
The agreement signed immediately by the defense ministers of the two States provides in particular “ the opening in the coming months of a permanent defense mission in Chisinau “, he clarified, adding that “ this is just a first step “. In the economic field, the two countries also initialed “ a bilateral roadmap identifying future projects to develop together “.
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