March 7 (SeeNews) - French president Emmanuel Macron and his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu, signed a defence cooperation agreement and an economic roadmap, aiming to strengthen security and bilateral ties, amid fears that Russia is trying to destabilise Moldova, the Elysee presidential palace said on Thursday.
Moldova’s government recently dismissed a plea from pro-Russian separatists in its breakaway region of Transnistria for Russian protection against alleged economic pressure from Moldova.
France reaffirmed its support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders, welcoming its efforts to integrate Transnistria into the same legal, economic, tax and customs.
France also said it is standing by Moldova to assist in addressing challenges arising from Russia's war on Ukraine and support reforms necessary for Moldova's accession to the European Union.
“If the aggressor is not stopped, he will keep going and the front line will be moving closer. Closer to us. Closer to you. Europe must, therefore, present a united front. Aggression must be repelled by strong force. Yes, freedom is not free, but facing an encouraged aggressor will cost us even more,” Sandu said during a joint press conference.
"The regime in Moscow seeks to control my country through energy blackmail, sponsoring protests, running disinformation campaigns, launching cyber-attacks, interfering in our elections, pouring in dirty money and even attempting a coup," Sandu added.
France is prepared to enhance cooperation with Moldova and the EU Partnership Mission (EUPM) to bolster Moldova's ability to manage crises, resist hybrid threats, and combat misinformation and interference, according to the statement.
"The opening of a permanent defence mission in Chisinau in the coming months will allow us to work more effectively to strengthen our cooperation in terms of education, training and interoperability of our armed forces," Macron said.
The defence cooperation agreement was signed amid France's efforts to rally international support for Moldova's sovereignty, resilience, and security. This initiative began during a conference in Paris on February 26, held in support of Ukraine.
Moldova's government has positioned the country on a pro-European trajectory, with the EU agreeing in 2023 to open accession talks.