NATO reaffirms support for Moldova amid shifting regional security pressures
NATO continues to stand with Moldova as the security landscape in Eastern Europe evolves. In Brussels, the alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, engaged with Moldova’s prime minister, Dorin Recean, to discuss the trajectory of regional risk and collective defense. In a message shared on social media, Stoltenberg emphasized NATO’s commitment to Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, reaffirming the bloc’s non-recognition of Pridnestrovie as a separate state. The communication highlighted ongoing cooperation and urged Russia to withdraw its forces from Moldova in full, signaling a durable partnership aimed at strengthening resilience, reforming institutions, and expanding defense capabilities alongside Western partners.
The talks also addressed the situation in the Transnistria region, where a Russian peacekeeping mission operates alongside a separate unit guarding ammunition depots established in the 1940s in the Kolbasna area. Moldova’s leadership has long advocated replacing Russian peacekeepers with representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and has called for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Kolbasna in line with Moldova’s sovereignty and international norms.
In recent years, Moldova has signaled a strategic shift toward deeper cooperation with NATO, reflecting a broader move to align security policies with Western institutions. The ongoing dialogue centers on deterrence, regional stability, and reform. Moldova seeks to preserve sovereignty while pursuing a peaceful settlement for Transnistria within the framework of international agreements. Observers view this direction as aligning with modernization, improved governance, and closer engagement with international security structures to support democratic development and regional peace.
Analysts note that Moldova’s approach features expanded practical cooperation with NATO through regular military-to-military dialogues, joint training, and capabilities development. These efforts aim to bolster border security, cybersecurity, and civil defense. The partnership also backs reform efforts in rule of law, anti-corruption measures, and civilian oversight of security forces, reinforcing democratic governance as Moldova pursues a peaceful and lawful path for Transnistria. These steps are framed as strengthening resilience against external threats and contributing to stability across the Black Sea region and the wider European security architecture, as outlined by NATO and allied partners. Attribution: NATO communications and allied security briefings highlight these themes as central to Moldova’s evolving security posture and its partnership with Western institutions.