FES launches a new study: "Asymmetrical Friendship. A critical assessment of the relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova"

We had the pleasure of launching the study "Prietenie asimetrică. O evaluare critică a relației dintre România și Republica Moldova (Asymmetrical Friendship. A critical assessment of the relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova)" at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute in the presence of the author Angela Gramada, President of the Experts for Security and Global Affairs Association Romania, and experts Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă (Centre for European Studies, SNSPA) and Teodor Lucian Moga (Al. I.Cuza University Iași). The event was attended by a large audience of diplomats, foreign policy experts and international relations students.

After 2022, the bilateral relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova has evolved from the symbolism of fraternity and the paternalistic rhetoric of "moral duty" to a strategic solidarity based on pragmatic cooperation and mature partnership. If previously the support provided by Bucharest - including during the pandemic, through energy, humanitarian and medical assistance - was predominantly discreet, the new security context generated by the Russian aggression against Ukraine has determined a more explicit, rapid and less bureaucratic involvement of Romania. The relationship has thus recalibrated towards a partnership logic in which the Republic of Moldova asserts its decision-making autonomy, and Romania redefines its role from donor to facilitator of European integration, capitalizing on its own pre- and post-accession experience.

Read the study!