Head of the European Special Operations Command of the United States of America, visiting the Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, November 29, 2022 — Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii had a meeting with the head of the Special Operations Command in Europe (SOCEUR) of the United States of America, Major General Steven Edwards, who is on a two-day visit to the Republic of Moldova.

The officials discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation relations in the field of defense, the assistance provided over the years by the American side in various programs and projects of common interest.

The dialogue focused, in particular, on the expertise offered in the implementation of the military reform, the elaboration of policy documents, the training of the National Army in various fields within the framework of specialized courses and multinational exercises held both on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and abroad.

The American official expressed his willingness to support the transformation process of the defense institution of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the continuation of the implementation of bilateral projects, including in the field of operational capabilities development.

Also today, Major General Edwards had a meeting with the commander of the National Army, Brigadier General Eduard Ohladciuc, as well as with specialists from the subdivisions of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

The parties discussed the training process and the participation of the Moldovan military in international peacekeeping missions, such as KFOR in Kosovo, the European Union military training and advisory operation for the defense and security forces in Mali and the peacekeeping operation in the Republic of Lebanon — The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to which the National Army deployed four staff officers in the summer of this year.