National Army will receive 62 military trucks from a joint procurement with Romania under the SAFE program
The National Army of the Republic of Moldova is set to receive 62 multifunctional military trucks through a joint procurement initiative with Romania, the first of its kind under the European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) mechanism. The participation documents were signed on November 2 at the Victoria Palace in Bucharest, in the presence of Romanian official Luca Niculescu and the two countries’ defense ministers, Anatolie Nosatîi and Ștefan-Radu Oprea.
Through this acquisition, the Republic of Moldova joins the framework agreement concluded in 2019 between the General Directorate for Armaments of Romania and the company IVECO Defence Vehicles.
The agreement provides for the supply of 2,909 military transport platforms in 16 different configurations. The Romanian Army has already received 2,039 of these. The vehicles are manufactured at the IVECO plant in Petrești, Dâmbovița county.
The trucks will contribute to the “development of the National Army’s operational capabilities”
To facilitate this acquisition, two documents were signed: an addendum, through which the contracting authority from the Republic of Moldova becomes a party to the framework agreement, and a subsequent contract to procure the 62 platforms.
The documents were signed by Major General Ionel-Cornel Pleșa, Head of the General Directorate for Armaments of Romania; Cornel Stanislav Pojar, Director of the Agency for Assurance, Resources, and Asset Management within the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova; and Nazario Bianchini, Sales Director at IVECO Defence Vehicles.
The agreement will contribute to developing the National Army’s logistical and operational capabilities, as well as aligning military standards and increasing interoperability between the two states, stated the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, Anatolie Nosatîi.
"For the Republic of Moldova, this agreement holds special significance. It reaffirms Romania’s steadfast support for the modernization of the National Army and for strengthening the defense capabilities of our countries. The trucks procured and delivered under this agreement will contribute to developing the National Army’s logistical and operational capabilities. Furthermore, cooperation throughout this process will facilitate the alignment of standards and enhance interoperability between our armed forces," stated Anatolie Nosatîi.
“Our collaboration is becoming extremely important”
Romania’s Minister of National Defence, Ștefan Radu Oprea, emphasised that the security of the two states is interdependent and that cooperation must be expanded—including in the areas of intelligence sharing, threat identification, and the development of joint operational capabilities—especially given the increasingly frequent incidents involving drones.
“The security of the Republic of Moldova also means the security of Romania. Mr. Minister, we must work and collaborate together across all fronts: from intelligence sharing to developing joint operational capabilities and identifying threats—which occur almost daily, including those posed by drones. The Republic of Moldova and Romania are facing the same situation. The Black Sea is turbulent these days. That is why our collaboration is becoming extremely important across all these areas: intelligence sharing and joint action,” Minister Ștefan Radu Oprea stressed during the event.
The Romanian official also highlighted the significance of the project for the defense industry, noting that the procurement leverages production capabilities developed within Romania and contributes to the country’s transformation into an exporter of defense equipment.
“The fact that we have invested in and developed production capabilities in Romania shows that, today, we are already in a position to become exporters of security—exporters of competitive equipment,” stated Ștefan Radu Oprea.
Prime Minister of Romania: “A great opportunity to protect our territory and citizens”
Present at the signing ceremony, the Prime Minister of Romania, Luca Niculescu, stated that the project is part of joint efforts to strengthen security and develop the defense industry. According to him, funding through the SAFE mechanism provides opportunities for modernizing military capabilities, as well as for protecting the citizens and territories of both countries.
“We share the common goal of strengthening and adapting our defense capabilities to current requirements and challenges, investing in the defense industry, and—in doing so—supporting the consolidation of the European industrial and technological base through joint projects and procurements. The funding provided by the SAFE program represents a great opportunity for us to protect our territory and our citizens. We must work even harder to deepen bilateral cooperation in this field, fostering collaboration and coordination. I am pleased that we were able to finalize this project, which reaffirms the strategic, historical, and warm, friendly relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova,” Niculescu said.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the economic significance of the agreement, noting that the production, integration, and final testing of the IVECO platforms will take place in Romania—a development that will help attract investment and create jobs.
The European SAFE mechanism is a European Union financial instrument worth 150 billion euros, designed to stimulate joint defense procurement and strengthen the European defense industry.
To access these funds and favorable contracts, states must form groups of at least two countries and submit a joint procurement plan. The regulation mandates that at least 65% of the value of the acquired weaponry must be produced within the European space.
Although not an EU member, the Republic of Moldova can participate as a candidate state by establishing direct partnerships with an EU member state. Chisinau is utilizing this mechanism through Romania.
In addition to the procurement of transport vehicles, the authorities in Chisinau are exploring the expansion of cooperation via SAFE to include the development and acquisition of air defense systems and anti-drone technologies.
