France, Moldova sign defense accord, further raising concerns
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The defense cooperation agreement commits both countries to future training and intelligence sharing.
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French President Emmanuel Macron and Moldovan President Maia Sandu during her visit to Paris, France in March 2024 (President Maia Sandu's X account)
Moldova and France inked a defense cooperation agreement on Thursday as part of Western efforts to bolster military power and presence closer to the Russian borders.
It was signed by Moldovan President Maia Sandu during a state visit to Paris on Thursday, almost one month after a similar agreement was reached between France and Armenia.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged his country's “unwavering support” for Moldova.
Read more: Defeat of Russia 'indispensable' for Europe's security: Macron
Sandu told Macron that if Russian President Vladimir Putin "is not stopped," he will "keep moving closer" toward her country and eventually closer toward France.
“Europe must therefore present a united front," she said.
The French defense ministry announced that a French defense mission will commence operations in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, by the summer, and discussions have started regarding potential weapons agreements.
Read more: France, UK, Australia vow unwavering support for Ukraine
The accord commits both countries to future training and intelligence sharing.
Putin has repeatedly slammed Western allegations of plans to militarily advance toward other European countries as "nonsense."
Campaigning her reelection campaign later this year, Sandu had claimed earlier that Moscow "seeks control" over her country by meddling in the elections, even accusing Russia of attempting a coup.
Russia denied the allegations and stated that the Moldovan president is inciting "anti-Russian sentiment" in her country.
'French people will not die for Ukraine'
Last month, the head of Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia asked Russia for support. Also in February, Transnistria, a breakaway region of the country, asked Russia to help protect itself from Moldovan “pressure”.
In the previous month, the leader of Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia requested support from Russia. Additionally, in February, Transnistria, a separatist region of the country, sought Russian assistance to safeguard itself from what it described as Moldovan "pressure."
In a statement that caused public outrage and negative international reactions, mainly by Kiev's allies, Macron said last week that sending European troops to Ukraine "should not be ruled out."
"We will do anything we can to prevent Russia from winning this war," he said then.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on the president's remarks that Macron is dragging France into a regional conflict and that he “insists on his goal of inflicting a strategic defeat."
But the harshest response came from Macron's own foreign minister, who publicly declared, in contrast to the president's statement, that there are no intentions to send French troops to Ukraine.
"French people will not die for Ukraine. We will not send troops for combat," Stephane Sejourne stressed.
Read more: NATO deployment not up for discussion at the moment: French MoD
