The Republic of Moldova, a partner in the SAFE program
Romania and its neighbor, the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), are strengthening their partnership in the field of defense.
Bogdan Matei, 03.11.2026, 14:00
On Monday, Romania and the Republic of Moldova signed a military partnership, the first of its kind, under the European SAFE program, which aims to strengthen the defense capabilities of European Union member states and their partners by financing investments and encouraging the joint procurement of military equipment. As noted by the media in Bucharest, this document bolsters defense ties between the two nations. Their respective militaries are set to jointly procure military vehicles manufactured by the Italian firm IVECO in Petrești, Dâmbovița, in southern Romania.
According to PM Luca Niculescu, this translates into investments and job creation in the country. Defense Minister Radu Oprea has added that the Romanian military is set to receive nearly 3,000 such vehicles, with 62 units earmarked for the Republic of Moldova. Anatolie Nosatîi, Defense Minister in the pro-Western government in Chișinău, has stated that all the trucks to be acquired and delivered under this agreement will contribute to developing the logistical and operational capabilities of Moldova’s armed forces. “Furthermore, cooperation within this process will facilitate the alignment of standards and increase interoperability between the two armies,” he states. “These are trucks we need to replace the old models inherited from the Soviet army,” Minister Nosatîi adds.
The head of the Romanian government has noted that, during the recent discussions with his counterpart, the possibility of developing joint anti-drone defense programs was also addressed. The airspace of both states is being violated with increasing frequency by drones, most likely launched by the invading Russian military against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Nosatîi has stated that the authorities in Chișinău have made progress in detecting aerial threats, but that systems capable of intercepting them are also required. “Defending an airspace that stretches along a 1,222-kilometer border with Ukraine cannot be ensured merely by positioning machine guns at regular intervals,” the minister acknowledges.
Analysts point out that the Republic of Moldova already possesses one of the smallest and most poorly equipped armies in the world. Furthermore, under Article 11 of its 1994 Constitution, that many now consider obsolete, the country is a neutral state; it cannot join any military bloc, nor can it permit the stationing of foreign troops on its territory. Moreover, while a majority of the public supports integration into the European Union, there remains significant reluctance toward NATO, a result of Soviet indoctrination during half a century of occupation. Given these circumstances, the partnership with Romania could prove vital. (LS)
