EU buys radar for the Republic of Moldova, after Russian missiles flew over its airspace several times
The EU is to allocate another 40 million euros to Moldova’s army, following new revelations about Russia’s efforts to topple the pro-Western government. Much of the sum will be spent on the purchase of a “long-range mobile ground surveillance radar” to help Moldova monitor its airspace, according to an internal EU memorandum dated March 13, quoted by the EUObserver.
The rest of the money will be allocated for high-mobility light tactical vehicles, buses, trucks, communication equipment, as well as anti-hacking hardware and software equipment. The amount will be paid “rather quickly”, EU sources said.
The money will come from the European Peace Fund (EPF), a joint fund of 8 billion euros created by EU countries, most of which is spent on Ukraine.
Procurement for Moldova will be managed by Estonia, through the Defense Investment Center. Germany, Romania, Great Britain and the USA are also helping the Republic of Moldova to strengthen its armed forces on a bilateral basis, the EU document also states, according to the quoted source.
The United States “will likely increase its substantial commitment in 2023 to a level close to, but below” the new EU grant of 40 million euros, the memorandum said. On the other hand, Moldova intends to buy “an aerial surveillance radar system, in addition to the radar proposed as part of this assistance measure”, the information note states.
The radar purchases come after Russia has fired several missiles through Moldovan airspace to hit targets in Ukraine in recent months. The EU and the US have doubled down on warnings that Russia is planning a coup in Moldova to oust its pro-Western leaders, who applied for EU membership last year.
