Moldovan-American Defense Partnership

Chisinau, May 3, 2013 — Republic of Moldova National Army and North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), USA, signed today at the Ministry of Defense a Memorandum of Agreement on establishment of Partner Units between the two defense institutions.

The Memorandum was signed by Brigadier Gen. Vitalie Stoian, Chief of Main Staff, Commander of the National Army and Maj.Gen. Gregory Lusk, Adjutant General, North Carolina National Guard.

The document focuses on expanding security and defense cooperation between Republic of Moldova and USA, fostering interpersonal relationships among junior officers and Non-Commissioned Officers and promoting mutual understanding of units of considered defense institutions.

The memorandum also establishes three distinct unit partnerships between the following units of the National Army and NCNG: the 22^nd Peacekeeping Battalion and 105^th Military Police Battalion, Special Forces Battalion “Fulger” and B/1/20^th Special Forces Company, as well as the 2^nd Brigade “Stefan cel Mare” and 130^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The above-mentioned units will seek opportunities to dialogue, identify means of interoperability through the sharing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Tactics, as well as collaborative training opportunities.

The six partner units will identify opportunities for Combined Exercises or international military operations in order to promote security cooperation.

Cooperation between North Carolina National Guard and Republic of Moldova National Army began in 1996.