Moldova Receives NATO-Style Military Aid Batch from France

The first shipment of assistance for the Moldovan army from the French Ministry of Defense has arrived in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. The aid package includes various types of equipment, material-technical resources, light infantry weapons, and ammunition, as reported by the Ministry of Defense press service.

This marks the initial batch of aid from France, received by Moldova as part of efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities and modernize the National Army. The provided equipment and gear for infantry are designed to ensure compatibility with the Moldovan military and the armies of European Union countries and NATO during joint exercises and missions.

This assistance follows expressions of support from French President Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community summit held on June 1 in the Republic of Moldova, and after the visit of the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, to Chisinau in September of this year.

The Republic of Moldova and France collaborate in the defense sector based on the Agreement between the defense ministries of the two countries, signed in Paris on July 15, 1998. Recently, Moldova's Minister of Defense, Anatolii Nosatii, and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, agreed to strengthen their partnership by signing a bilateral memorandum of understanding.

Although Moldova is a neutral state and not a NATO member, it closely cooperates with the Alliance. Moldovan officials consider EU and NATO membership as factors contributing to the country's security and have recently expressed concerns, asserting that the neutral status is insufficient for Moldova's protection.

According to the latest sociological survey conducted among 1,215 Moldovan citizens in August, 54% of respondents oppose Moldova's accession to NATO, while 26.5% support the idea.

In September, the Deputy Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Mircea Geoană, stated that NATO is ready to assist Moldova in the event of Russian aggression on its territory.

It is worth noting that the European Commission recommends initiating negotiations with Moldova on EU membership due to the country's significant progress in implementing Euro-integration reforms. The document specifically mentions Moldova's ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law, despite numerous challenges related to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.