The United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova held their fifth Strategic Dialogue session in London on 23 April, reaffirming a partnership that has grown substantially in scope and seniority over the past year – with defence reform, security cooperation and economic ties all on the agenda.
The meeting was hosted by the FCDO’s Director for Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Chris Allan, and saw ministerial-level participation from both sides, including UK Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty MP and Minister of State for Defence Lord Vernon Coaker. Moldova’s delegation was led by State Secretary Carolina Perebinos of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside counterparts from the Ministries of Defence and Economic Development.
Security and Resilience at the Core
With Moldova continuing to navigate significant external pressure – including sustained hybrid threats and interference ahead of its recent parliamentary elections – security cooperation featured prominently. Both governments highlighted progress in building Moldova’s resilience to foreign information manipulation, with shared lessons learned forming a practical foundation for deeper collaboration.
Defence reform, tackling serious and organised crime, and countering illicit finance were also identified as priority areas, reflecting Moldova’s broader reform agenda as it advances toward EU membership. The UK reiterated its “unwavering support” for Moldova’s sovereignty and its European path, and acknowledged Moldova’s contribution to regional security – including in support of Ukraine.
A Partnership Growing in Breadth
Beyond the security dimension, the dialogue reflected a relationship expanding across multiple domains. A Trade Dialogue ran in parallel, focused on strengthening economic ties and sustainable growth – an area of increasing relevance as Moldova modernises its economy and institutions.
Both sides also expressed interest in education sector cooperation, encouraging new partnerships between universities and research institutions. The entry into force of a reciprocal driving licence exchange agreement in August 2025 was cited as a practical example of the people-to-people ties being built alongside the higher-level strategic relationship.
President Maia Sandu’s visit to the UK in 2025, which included meetings with His Majesty The King and the Prime Minister, was highlighted as a marker of the elevated bilateral relationship.
Looking Ahead
Both governments committed to continuing collaboration through the Strategic Dialogue and other bilateral channels through 2026 and beyond, with the framework expected to expand as Moldova’s reform agenda matures and its European integration deepens.
For UK defence and security industry, Moldova’s trajectory, a small nation actively building sovereign resilience capabilities with strong Western backing, represents a market worth watching as international support programmes develop and procurement requirements grow.
Image – Gov.co.uk. From left to right: Ruslan Bolbocean, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the UK; Ghenadie Cojocaru, State Secretary for Defence, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova; Carolina Perebinos, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova; Steven Doughty MP, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories; Cristina Ceban, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation of the Republic of Moldova; and Fern Horine, UK Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
