Rahmenbedingungen von Verteidigung und Sicherheit der Republik Moldau
Basic Conditions of Defense and Security of the Republic of Moldova

Summary/Abstract: The Dnjestr region since 1990 defies the Chisinau-based Moldovan government. In 1992, the separatists, relying on Russian military support, won a brief war against the government. Since then, the conflict is “frozen”. A Russian-dominated “peacekeeping mission” contributes to the preservation of the status quo and thus supports the de facto independence of the „Dnestr Republic“. The Moldovan government is so weak that it cannot even threaten with a military intervention. The separatist armed forces are clearly superior; furthermore, the military balance on the Dnestr river has to consider the Russian military contingent in the region as well, which ostensibly guards Soviet-era ammunition depots; but in reality, the force implements Moscow’s geopolitical interests. Russia intends to keep Moldova in its „zone of special interest“ at any cost. The territorial collapse of the Moldovan state obviously plays into Moscow’s hands. The influence of other external players – Romania, Ukraine, OSCE, EU and NATO – on the situation in Moldova is insignificant. EU and NATO verbally support Moldova’s territorial integrity, but cannot or do not want to do more. Thus, the restoration of this integrity becomes more and more unlikely.

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