The Moldovan government will sign a defence cooperation agreement with France.
According to TASS, the relevant draft decision was included in the agenda of the government meeting scheduled for 21 February.
“The signing of an agreement on cooperation in the defence sector between the Moldovan and French governments is approved,” the document published on the government’s website reads.
Previously, France had provided Moldova with Ground Master (GM) 200 tactical radars to monitor the country’s airspace and donated a group of military equipment. According to the Ministry of Defence, the purchased radar failed to detect the drone whose wreckage was found in February near the border with Ukraine in the south of the country. However, the majority party in parliament said Moldova intends to purchase additional radars.
Last year, Moldova’s parliament approved a new national security strategy that identifies Russia as the country’s main threat. According to the document, the republic intends to strengthen co-operation in this area with other EU countries, as well as the UK, the US and Turkey.