Bucharest Signals Military Readiness to Defend Moldova Amid Rising Tensions With Russia

Romania stands ready to assist Moldova if the republic faces aggression from Russia, Romania’s top army commander said in an interview with Euronews on October 8.

General Gheorghiță Vlad said Bucharest already supports Chisinau’s defense buildup through joint programs and training, and underlined legal and political tools that would allow Romania to help both Moldova and Romanian citizens living there.

“Romania remains a committed ally of Moldova, we have a strategic partnership, and we will definitely help the Republic of Moldova in case of an attack,” General Vlad said.

He noted Romania has legislation obliging the state to assist its citizens abroad in wartime and said that assistance could include political, military, and other measures.

“Romania has political, military, and other instruments to support Moldova and, in particular, Romanian citizens in Moldova,” he said. The general also pointed out that many Moldovans hold dual Romanian citizenship.

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Vlad characterized a direct Russian attack on NATO-member Romania as unlikely but said military planners cannot rule out any scenario.

“According to our analysis, an attack by the Russian Federation on a NATO country is unlikely, but not impossible. And we, as soldiers, cannot rule out any scenario. Also, Russia has always practiced operations ‘under another flag,’ expanding hybrid warfare… Russians will use all methods to achieve their goals, primarily to destroy Ukraine… But I do not believe in a possible attack by Russia now or in the near future,” he said.

The remarks come amid persistent concern over the continued presence of Russian forces in Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region.

Moscow’s contingent—officially framed as “peacekeepers” since the 1990s but also organized as an Operational Group of Russian Forces—numbers roughly 1,000–1,500 personnel, according to Moldovan authorities. Those troops guard large ammunition depots in Cobasna and are viewed by Chisinau as a lever of Russian influence. Moldova demands their withdrawal.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia was reportedly seeking to expand its military presence in the breakaway region of Transnistria, with plans to increase its current force from approximately 1,500 to as many as 10,000 personnel.

The move coincides with a provocative military exercise simulating a Soviet-era assault on Bucharest.

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