Moldova, UK sign defence pact in face of threats from Russia

• 20 November, 06:26

Moldova and United Kingdom have established a new defence and security agreement in response to threats posed by Russia, the UK government announced on Wednesday.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the new initiative during his official visit to the Moldovan capital Chisinau. The UK foreign ministry emphasized that the agreement aims to "build on the extensive cooperation between the two nations and bolster Moldova’s resilience against external threats."

"Moldova is a crucial security ally for the UK, which is why we are enhancing our collaboration on irregular migration and launching this new defense and security partnership to strengthen their defenses against Russian aggression and ensure safety on British streets,” the Foreign Secretary stated.
Bordering Ukraine and having a large number of Russian-speaking population, Moldova is believed to be next in line for Russia’s invasion. Moldova has condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been shifting its foreign policy towards the West in the past two years. The country’s pro-EU president Maia Sandu has accused Russia of derailing the country’s democratic path and even claimed that Kremlin interfered in the presidential election and referendum held last month. Moldova has two pro-Russian separatist regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia, which are among the source of division within the former Soviet republic.