A conversation with President Maia Sandu of Moldova

The Russian invasion of Ukraine shook the security landscape in Europe to its foundations, as the return of war on the European continent shaped a new geopolitical reality. Today, Moldova finds itself in the Kremlin’s crosshairs.

The country has embarked upon a path towards EU membership, pursuing an ambitious reform program. It gained formal EU candidate status last year and hopes to open accession negotiations towards the end of 2023. Relations with NATO have also been reshaped in the wake of the war, whilst the country continues to maintain constitutional neutrality. On the 4^th of September 2023 the Netherlands Atlantic Association, together with the Clingendael Institute, hosted Moldovan President Maia Sandu in the parliamentary press center Nieuwspoort, The Hague, to reflect on regional security on the Alliance’s eastern flank, the impact of the war in Ukraine, Euro-Atlantic cooperation and the challenges that Moldova faces on the road to EU membership. The conversation was moderated by diplomatic correspondent for De Volkskrant Arnout Brouwers.

Photos: Arash Nikkhah

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