President Igor Dodon asked the Ministry of Defense to stop the preparations for participation in the Rapid Trident exercise that will take place at the Ukrainian combat training center Yavoriv during September 7-24 and to inform the organizers that Moldova’s 57 service members of the National Army will not take part in the drill, IPN reports.

In an application addressed to Deputy Minister of Defense Gheorghe Galbura, presidential adviser on national security and defense and secretary of the Supreme Security Council Artur Gumeniuc says the given exercise is classed by the Ukrainian side as a multinational one. Under the law on national defense of Moldova, the consent of the supreme commander of the Armed Forces is needed for the Moldovan military contingent to be able to take part in such exercises. “In virtue of his powers, the President of the Republic of Moldova didn’t give the go-ahead to take part in this exercise,” said the adviser.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the goal of the participation in the Rapid Trident exercise is to develop the interoperability level, to strengthen the defense capacities and to promote the National Army’s image on the international arena. The Moldovan service members have taken part in such exercises in Ukraine since 1996.