The signing of a defense cooperation agreement between Moldova and France is underway. The pact will be signed on Thursday 7 March. The objective is to strengthen the capabilities of the former Soviet state in a context of growing fear that Russia could destabilize Chișinău. In fact, on 18 March 2014, after the Russian annexation of Crimea, Transnistria, part of Moldovan territory, asked to join Russia. 

Moldova and France had reached a first agreement in September 2023. The agreement concerned the training of military personnel, regular dialogue in the defense sector, and intelligence sharing. Since Chișinău is Ukraine's western neighbor and has a limited defense budget, cooperation with Paris is essential to build a more solid axis with Europe.

The pact will be signed in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron and his counterpart Maia Sandu. Moldova has long had tense relations with Moscow, which worsened after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In fact, Russia has soldiers and peacekeepers in Transnistria, a breakaway state of Moldova that has maintained its autonomy for three decades, with the support of the Kremlin.