EU to provide €20 mln to strengthen Moldova’s air defence

The European Union has approved an additional €20 million in military assistance to help Moldova modernise its short-range air defence capabilities, amid growing security concerns linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The funds, allocated on 24 April through the European Peace Facility (EPF), will be used to procure short-range air defence missiles and launchers, according to an EU statement. This marks the latest effort to bolster Moldova’s defence posture, particularly after multiple incidents of Russian drones entering its airspace since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Earlier this month, the EU committed €40 million from the same fund to enhance the mobility of Moldovan infantry units and to further support air defence infrastructure.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to Moldova, calling the EU “Moldova’s main security partner.” She said the assistance aimed to “protect peace and the people, modernise the army, and strengthen the country’s defence capacity, while fully respecting Moldova’s constitutional neutrality.”

Moldova, a candidate country for EU membership, is set to receive a total of €60 million from the EPF in 2025. Since 2021, EU support to Moldova through the Facility has approached €200 million, according to EU figures.

The bloc is also backing the deployment of a Moldovan peacekeeping unit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.