Moldova lacks technical and administrative capacity required for EU accession. Brussels needs to do much more to put its European perspective on track. For Moldova, 2022 was the worst of years and the best of years. Russia’s war in Ukraine turned life upside down. The country, often ranked as the …
Read More »How Russia Torpedoed Its Own Influence in Moldova
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned neighboring Moldova into a tinder box. Its border with Ukraine stretches for almost 1,000 kilometers, and Russian missiles have entered Moldovan airspace on more than one occasion. Moscow has threatened to prevent Moldova from becoming another “anti-Russia,” while making fearmongering accusations that the Ukrainian …
Read More »Gagauzia’s New Governor, if Confirmed, Poses Headache for Moldovan Govt
Evghenia Gutul’s victory in the race for governor of autonomous Gagauzia has been dogged by allegations of irregularities. If confirmed, her pro-Russian party, bankrolled by a fugitive oligarch, will have a seat in Moldova’s pro-European cabinet. Evghenia Gutul may not have much of a political background to speak of, but …
Read More »Navigating complex maritime security challenges in the Black and Mediterranean seas: Insights from the updated EUMSS
In March, the European Union announced an update to its 2014 Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS), identifying both new and persisting threats to European security at sea. Undoubtedly, Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine helped influence the updated EUMSS approach to the Black and Mediterranean seas, with implicit and explicit …
Read More »Time to Get Serious About Moldova
Moldova lacks technical and administrative capacity required for EU accession. Brussels needs to do much more to put its European perspective on track. For Moldova, 2022 was the worst of years and the best of years. Russia’s war in Ukraine turned life upside down. The country, often ranked as the …
Read More »Romania says Chinese Road Projects Prove Wisdom of 2021 Ban
Romania banned Chinese companies from public infrastructure projects in 2021; two that predate the measure have gone far from smoothly. Catalin Drula recalls visiting Montenegro in 2016, when work was just beginning on what was supposed to be a 143-kilometre highway from the Adriatic port of Bar to the border …
Read More »Turkey inks $321 million deal with Romania for Bayraktar military drones
Ukraine has had considerable success using the drone against Russia since Moscow’s invasion last year. Turkey and Romania have signed a multimillion dollar deal to sell Bucharest 18 Bayraktar TB2 drones. The deal further cements Turkey’s military relations with eastern Europe amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Turkey’s ambassador to …
Read More »Gagauzia’s Election Could Help Russia Destabilize Moldova
The citizens of Gagauzia are preparing to elect their next governor. A victory of one of the many pro-Russian candidates could destabilize Moldova and derail its EU aspirations. A new governor will be elected on April 30 in Gagauzia, a traditionally pro-Russian autonomous region in southern Moldova. The outcome of …
Read More »NATO URGENTLY PUTS TOGETHER A “ROMANIAN FRONT”
All along the stretch from the Baltic to the Black Sea, the alliance deploys strike battle groups. “Sea Shield-2023” against the backdrop of a provocation It is noteworthy that the attack of sea drones on Sevastopol was carried out during the Sea Shield-2023 exercises, which are taking place off the …
Read More »Judy Asks: Is the EU Doing Enough for Eastern Europe?
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has stepped up its engagement in Eastern Europe. But it must now go beyond providing soft power support and become a security player in the region. Since Russia’s war in Ukraine began in February 2022, we have seen a different EU in …
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