Moldova and Romania sign 2023 defense cooperation plan

Secretary of State for Defense Policy Valeriu Mija and his Romanian counterpart Simona Cojocaru have signed the 2023 Bilateral Plan of Defense Cooperation between Romania and Moldova. The document was signed during the eighth meeting of the Romania-Moldova Joint Military Commission held in Tirgu-Mures on June 12 and 13. According to the Moldovan Defense Ministry, Romanian and Moldovan officials discussed such topics as modernization of the defense institution, promotion of international peace and security, education, military training, study of defense and military history, as well as increasing interoperability in joint actions and international peacekeeping missions. At the same time, experts from the two delegations discussed the evolution of regional security, the process of European integration and harmonization of national legislation, as well as the reform of the national defense industry in accordance with international standards, the Defense Ministry said. “The stability and security of the Republic of Moldova are of strategic importance for Romania. That is why meetings such as today’s are necessary to discuss security challenges in our region, such as hybrid threats from the territory of the Russian Federation, disinformation or energy security. It is also a great opportunity for experts from the two defense agencies to communicate and have a consistent exchange of views in order to find solutions to these issues. We believe that Moldova’s future is in the great European family and we will support this goal in every possible way,” State Secretary for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations of the Romanian Ministry of Defense Simona Cojocaru said. Meetings of the Joint Military Commission are held annually on a parity basis in accordance with Article 5 of the Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania, signed in Chisinau on 20 April 2012. The first meeting of the Moldovan-Romanian Joint Military Commission took place in Moldova on 21 September 2015.