France and Moldova sign defense agreement amid Russian threats: Details
President of France Emmanuel Macron (Photo: Getty Images)
France and Moldova have signed a security cooperation agreement amid threats from Russia, announces French President Emmanuel Macron.
The agreement on defense cooperation between Moldova and France was signed during President Maia Sandu's visit to Paris.
The defense ministers of Moldova and France signed the document. According to Macron, such an agreement envisages "the opening in the coming months of a permanent defense mission in Chisinau." The President has added that this is just the first step.
Macron and Sandu also issued a joint statement calling on Russia to "withdraw its forces illegally stationed on Moldovan territory."
At the same time, Paris has stated that it is ready to "contribute, when the time comes, to a strong and peaceful resolution of this conflict."
Threats to Moldova from Russia
Earlier, the head of Moldova's Information and Security Service, Alexandru Musteață, stated that Russia had plans to destabilize the situation inside Moldova.
In particular, Moscow wants to interfere in the presidential elections in Moldova and disrupt the referendum on the country's European integration.
Musteață specified that in 2023, Russian special services had a record level of activity in Moldova.
Also, recently, the so-called Transnistrian Moldavian Republic appealed to Russia for "protection from Moldova."
