NewsMoldova shifts trade focus from Russia to the West amid criticism

Moldova shifts trade focus from Russia to the West amid criticism

Prime Minister of Moldova Dorin Recean (on the left) and Dumitru Alaiba, Deputy Prime Minister for economic development and digitalisation of the republic (on the right)

Images source: © X | @dumitru_alaiba

ed. PRC

19 April 2024 11:01

Moldova limits trade relations with Russia to 3 percent of its total foreign trade. Most exports are now directed towards the European Union, the USA, the United Kingdom, and EFTA countries. Moscow has quickly and sharply criticised the severance of ties.

Moldova has significantly reduced trade relations with Russia over the last 15 years. Currently, the share of foreign trade with Russia constitutes merely 3 percent of the total trade turnover – highlighted by the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development and Digitization of the Republic, Dmitrij Alaiba, as reported by the newspaper "Kommiersant".

In 2009, 75 percent of Moldova's trade was oriented towards Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Now, this scenario has completely changed – 70 percent of our trade relations are with the European Union, EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – ed. note), North America, and the United Kingdom – Alaiba mentioned in an exchange with the Moldpres agency.

Following the association agreement with the EU signed nine years ago, exports to the EU have surged to nearly 65 percent of all Moldovan exports.

In 2023, Moldova raised its military budget and arms acquisitions, enhancing military cooperation with the United States, the European Union, and NATO.

Moscow Reacts with Sharp Criticism

Russia has begrudgingly acknowledged Moldova's shift towards the West, but the Kremlin has criticised the nation for severing ties with Russia.

Russia draws parallels with the situation in Ukraine, questioning its territorial integrity and backing separatist regions.

Mikhail Galuzin, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, explicitly stated that Moldova's leadership is pushing for militarization and aims to make the republic an "anti-Russian springboard," mirroring Ukraine.

The Kremlin-run agency TASS has recently aired an interview with the president of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky. He claimed that Moldova's "militarization" threatens Transnistria, accusing Chisinau of ceasing negotiations with Transnistria and underscoring Transnistria's "advanced" cooperation agreements with Russia.

According to the American Institute for the Study of War, the interview is part of a strategy to lay the groundwork for destabilizing Moldova and rationalising future Russian operations.