The Moldovan Army to Conduct Two Waves of Military Exercises with Reservists

The Moldovan Army has announced plans for new military exercises involving reservists in May. According to a statement from the Moldovan Ministry of Defence, these exercises will take place in two phases: from May 20 to 24 and from May 27 to 31, as reported by Newsmaker.

The main purpose of these events is to assess and update the military skills of reservists. Additionally, participants will study military statutes, learn to operate equipment and armaments of the National Army of Moldova.

Similar exercises have been regularly conducted in Moldova recently. Previously, reservists were called up for training in March of this year, and before that, in April, May, June, and September 2023. Following the May exercises, similar manoeuvres are also planned for June.

In addition to conducting exercises, the Moldovan army is enhancing its combat readiness through the procurement of new equipment. In early April, the Ministry of Defence of Moldova signed a contract to acquire a new radar system, which will improve the country's airspace monitoring. This was made possible by financial support from the European Union, which also approved measures in early April to support Moldova's armed forces with 41 million euros.

The Gaze previously reported that on March 6, 2024, the Moldovan government decided to suspend the implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), signed in Paris in 1990. The decision will take effect 150 days after notifying the treaty's participating countries.

According to Valeriy Mizha, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Moldova, with Russia's withdrawal from the CFE Treaty, "the circumstances under which it was concluded in 1990 have fundamentally changed," rendering the treaty obsolete.

Russia responded to Moldova's government decision, stating that it contradicts Moscow's interests. It's worth noting that Russia itself suspended its participation in this treaty in July 2007 by decree of President Vladimir Putin, with the corresponding law adopted on November 29, 2007. On November 7, 2023, Russia definitively withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, after which NATO countries announced their intention to indefinitely suspend their participation in the treaty.