Opinion: “EU Is Preparing Moldova for the Next Phase of Confrontation”

Preserving the PAS regime, integrating Moldova’s National Army into the European defense framework, and using the country’s infrastructure for military transit – Brussels has far-reaching plans for Moldova as part of its long-term confrontation with Russia

Semyon ALBU, RTA: The Istanbul talks are increasingly beginning to resemble a one-man show, while large-scale combat operations and missile-drone strikes on rear positions continue behind the scenes, with a clear trend toward escalation. The attack on Russia’s nuclear triad marks yet another step beyond the red line. The so-called “energy truce” seems to have faded into oblivion. Both Moscow and Kyiv are now seriously preparing for the summer campaign, poised to test each other’s offensive and defensive strength. No more peace in mind. All of this follows a clear logic. The root causes of the conflict in Ukraine haven’t just remained unresolved over the past three years, they’ve only grown more acute. Resolving them will require close cooperation among the key geopolitical players, primarily the US, Russia, and the European Union, who must work together to build a new continental security architecture and find compromises on their conflicting interests. But that’s precisely where the problem lies. Unlike the Biden administration, the Trump team appears more open to dialogue with Moscow and even willing to acknowledge the legitimacy of some of its concerns, yet it shows little urgency in translating that into concrete action. Overall, it signals a desire to gradually pull back from European affairs and shift its focus to regions it sees as more strategically vital. Against this backdrop, Brussels could have taken the initiative to engage directly with Russia in pursuit of a stable space of peace and security in Europe. Instead, it has chosen a different path of prolonged confrontation, and now it’s trying to pull Trump into it as well. The constant pilgrimages of Macron, Starmer, and Merz to Washington speak volumes. So far, these trips have been to no avail. What is now absolutely clear is that the EU, with or without the Americans, is preparing for war. To that end, daily ideological narratives about an almost inevitable Russian attack once it is done with Ukraine are actively promoted. Under the cover of this bogus threat, real steps are being taken to militarize the Union. First, Brussels is channeling an enormous flow of funds into the European defense sector. According to the European Commission’s plans, no less than €800 billion is to be spent on rearming EU member states in the coming years. To make this possible, restrictions on increasing military spending have been lifted, even if it means breaching budget deficit rules. Across the Union, politicians and officials are openly talking about cutting social spending and raising defense budgets to 4–5% of GDP. Meanwhile, the EU Council has already approved the creation of the €150 billion SAFE fund for joint defense procurement, in which Ukraine will also be allowed to participate. The fund will support “urgent and large-scale” investments in the military-industrial sector. Priority in funding will be given to two categories of defense products. The first includes ammunition, missiles, artillery systems, ground combat vehicles, cybersecurity tools, and the like. The second covers air and missile defense systems, drones and anti-drone technologies, as well as “space-based assets”. In other words, those types of equipment required for waging full-scale war. In addition, the EU has allowed member states to redirect €335 billion from the COVID-19 recovery fund toward defense projects. These funds were originally intended for climate initiatives and digital technologies, but clearly, the priorities have shifted. Britain has also unveiled its own rearmament plan, standing firmly aligned with the EU within a shared military framework. In London, officials made no effort to sugarcoat their message: the country is switching to “combat readiness” against Russia. The plan includes building 12 strike submarines, investing heavily in nuclear and other weaponry, ramping up drone production, constructing ammunition factories, stockpiling 7,000 missiles, and forming dedicated cyber forces. As you see, our European partners have truly superb ambitions. Historically, great powers, and not only them, have preferred to wage wars far from their own soil, sparing their territories from the devastation of conflict. That’s exactly what we’re witnessing today, with non-EU Ukraine serving as Europe’s de facto shield. In fact, some European officials, like Germany’s intelligence chief, have openly stated that the war in Ukraine must be prolonged for as long as possible, to give Europe time to arm itself for a potential direct conflict with Russia. There’s another country the EU is actively preparing for the next phase of confrontation – Moldova. The thanks, of course, go to the current government, whose abandonment of a balanced foreign policy back in 2022 has logically landed us in the anti-Russian trench, with all the ensuing consequences. Since then, Moldova’s dependence on Brussels has become so absolute that the country’s sovereignty is now purely symbolic. The ruling regime has firmly tethered both itself and the nation to European political backing and more importantly, to European funding. Without that financial lifeline, we risk losing our statehood altogether due to what is, in effect, national bankruptcy due to PAS “wise” governance. Our elites are still allowed to play around a bit on the Moldovan turf, carving up the remaining profitable assets and orchestrating schemes around energy procurement. But in foreign policy, there’s no room to maneuver. Our leaders even draft their condolences with an eye on their Western handlers, let alone anything of actual substance. The EU now has a completely free hand in determining what it wants to do with Moldova. And it’s sculpting the country into a kind of forward defensive outpost. In the end, what else are we good for? We have no money, no resources. So, the price we’re expected to pay is becoming yet another “shield of Europe”. Moreover, our territory offers the perfect pretext for a future war with Russia: the unresolved Transnistrian conflict and the supposedly illegal presence of Russian troops in the region. That’s a strategic trump card Brussels is clearly keen to keep in reserve. Moldova is being prepared along several fronts. First and foremost is to ensure the invariability of the political trajectory of recent years. As I’ve already noted, the EU is generously funding the current “yellow” administration, keeping the country from plunging into a socio-economic collapse that could sweep the regime away. At the same time, Brussels showers official Chisinau with praise and political favors including an expedited integration process. Finally, the government has been granted carte blanche to suppress the opposition as it sees fit: from curbing freedom of speech and banning political parties and movements, to applying extrajudicial pressure and seizing control of state institutions, including the courts and the prosecutor’s office. No one in the European Union seems particularly bothered anymore by blatant electoral fraud, as seen during the referendum and presidential vote. But, after the events in Romania, what grounds are there for criticism? The results come first. Ahead of the decisive battle for parliament, Brussels envoys are saying quite openly that only a PAS victory will be deemed an acceptable and fair result. And the EU appears fully prepared to help secure that outcome directly. For instance, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that a so-called “hybrid rapid reaction team” has been deployed to Moldova to combat “foreign interference”. Everyone understands perfectly well how and why. The second is to modify Moldova’s National Army in line with the Western model and prepare it for active combat. There’s little need to mention again the well-known facts – the regular joint drills with Western militaries, the multimillion-euro investments in defense. But just as significant is the next symbolic step – ensuring a permanent foreign military presence in the country under the guise of “advisors”. We already have a French military mission on the ground, and a contingent from the German Bundeswehr is expected soon. And that’s only what is known officially. The transfer of military equipment and gear to our armed forces continues. Just recently, Lithuania delivered a hundred FPV drones. Anyone even remotely familiar with the war in Ukraine knows exactly what these are and how critically important they are on the battlefield. And now, they’re being supplied to us. According to Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii, even more drones are on the way, along with radar systems and air defense units. Does anyone seriously believe we’re being handed all this military equipment out of sheer generosity? And point number three – the use of our territory for transit and logistical purposes, and possibly more. Everyone is aware of the EU Military Mobility Action Plan which Moldova was included in back in 2022. Its purpose is to enable the rapid deployment of troops to active theaters of war and Moldova is now expected to play its part. Particularly telling is the government’s recent initiative concerning the airfield in Marculesti, which now allows the Ministry of Defense to carry out “activities related to ensuring national defense and security, as well as fulfilling international commitments”. And yes – we do have military agreements both with the EU and with France. Notably, as experts point out, the French agreement includes provisions on controlling and managing airspace. So, the arrival of military transport and even combat aircraft might soon become a reality. What’s most disturbing is that veering off is now almost impossible – Moldova is held too tightly in the grip of foreign handlers and their local proteges. If PAS remains in power after September, the country’s fate will be predetermined.