Moldovan-American Defense Cooperation Discussed in Washington

CHISINAU, March 9, 2019 — General State Secretary, Radu Burduja, met with a series of officials from the federal and defense agencies in Washington D.C., USA and presented the achievements of the reformation process of the defense sector of the Republic of Moldova.

During the dialogue with Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in the USA, Cristina Balan, there have been reviewed the results of the military reform, the achievements of the Moldovan-American defense cooperation, as well as the prospects for strengthening the strategic dialogue.

Radu Burduja also met with representatives of the US Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Joint Staff Command.

The General State Secretary informed the American partners about the regional situation’s evolution, the actions of the defense institution’s leadership aimed to achieve the established objectives, and the projects implemented with the support of the US partners.

The officials also talked about the intention to cooperate in the area of procurement, military staff training, military industry, and the development of the National Army sergeants corps.

The American partners appreciated the achievements in the process of reforming the defense and security sector of the Republic of Moldova and encouraged the preservation of a positive dynamic in developing and adjusting the national military capacities to international standards.

While in Washington, Radu Burduja and Cristina Balan also met with Kevin O’Keefe, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Political-Military Affairs Bureau and other representatives of the US Department of State. The talks related to the bilateral cooperation priorities, with a focus on strengthening the strategic dialogue, also through the organization of a meeting of the Working group on defense and security in the near future.

During the talks at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense, there were approached the technical details of co-working in the field of military procurement through existing funds and defense and security cooperation projects.

General State Secretary, Radu Burduja, is in Washington D.C., USA during March 4-8, 2019, where he is attending the conference “Building Capable and Resilient Institutions to Strengthen our Partnerships”.