Moldova turns to France in face of threats from Putin

PARIS — France doesn’t want Moldova to be the next Ukraine.

On Thursday, the two countries signed a deal to boost military cooperation. The pact comes as the Kremlin turns its gaze on the country of 2.6 million which is not a member of either the EU or NATO, and where Russian forces are stationed in the breakaway Transnistria region.

The agreement "sends out a powerful message: Moldova is becoming stronger alongside France. With France's support, we know we're not alone," Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who traveled to Paris after attending the European People's Party congress in Bucharest, told reporters.

Speaking alongside Sandu, French President Emmanuel Macron said that "Moldova's democratic reality and its aspirations for a European future — like those of Ukraine — actually represent a challenge for [President] Vladimir Putin's Russia, as it develops another model on its doorstep."

France is increasingly interested in bolstering its presence in countries that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence. Last month, Paris struck new defense deals with Armenia, another small democracy working to distance itself from Russia.

Paris is trying to make Moldova more of a priority for the West; the country is specifically mentioned in the deliverables following an international leaders' summit summoned by Macron in late February.

Tensions between Moscow and Moldova have significantly increased recently as the country is set to begin negotiations to join the EU.

This week, Putin said he would support Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia after meeting the territory’s pro-Moscow leader.

Last month, authorities in Transnistria called on Moscow to “protect” it against “pressure” from Moldova.

That appeal has been noted in Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday: "Russia is open to provide this assistance, but we prefer settling all issues without any exceptions by means of a dialogue, a political dialogue," according to the TASS news agency.

Beefing up defense

While Moldova’s Foreign Minister Mihail Popșoi doesn't see an immediate threat of a Russian invasion, his country is nevertheless seeking to beef up its defenses.

Moldova also decided this week to suspend its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which sets limits for military equipment including battle tanks, artillery and warplanes.

The defense cooperation agreement between Moldova and France paves the way for training the country's armed forces. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu — who traveled to Moldova last year to prepare the deal — discussed future arms contracts with his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatîi, according to a French official.

A French defense mission will also be set up by the summer.

In an interview with POLITICO ahead of the meeting, Popșoi said that investment in the country’s air defenses was desperately needed. Several Russian missiles launched from the Black Sea have been detected flying through the country’s airspace en route to targets in Ukraine.

In September, Moldova purchased a Thales-made French Ground Master 200 radar — the first time the East European country has bought Western military gear. An option discussed in September was to acquire MBDA-made short-range air defense Mistral missiles.

The Moldovan government doesn't plan to stop there.

“Of course, it’s very expensive and we don’t quite have the resources,” Popșoi said. “But we are looking at ways of how we can have the system in place so that we’re not in the position of the characters from the movie 'Don’t Look Up,'” the Moldovan minister added, a reference to the film where humanity ignores an approaching comet set to destroy the Earth.

Laura Kayali reported from Paris. Gabriel Gavin reported from Chișinău, Moldova.