In the Munich Security Conference, President Maia Sandu took part in the session titled “Beyond the Alliance: Partenering up for Euroepan Security”. Alongside the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, the Moldovan official underlined that the war in the neighboring country seriously affects Moldova: “Even if, owing to Ukraine, which keeps the Russian army further from our borders, at the moment we do not face military risks, the government works to ensure order in the country and we want to enjoy peace and stability and to continue the reforms”.

President Sandu said the renouncing of neutrality is not in question at present. On the other hand, neutrality does not mean that the defense sector should be neglected. “Our country needs to strengthen its defense capabilities, including the capacity to manage hybrid attacks and cyber-attacks, propaganda and disinformation.”

While in Munich, Maia Sandu had a meeting with the President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, and President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel.

She also met with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, with the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo.

The Moldovan official discussed with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid and with high-ranking European officials, namely: EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn, head of the group of the Christian Social Unit (CSU) of the German Bundestag Alexander Dobrindt and head of the German Federal Chancellery Wolfgang Schmidt, whom she assured that the new Cabinet will continue the initiated reforms and will accelerate the process of joining the EU. President Sandu thanked the European partners for the confidence and support offered to Moldova.

On the sidelines of the conference in Munich, Maia Sandu also discussed the reform agenda that the new Cabinet will continue, with emphasis on the justice sector, security and maintaining of public order, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Mélanie Joly. The discussions also focused on the situation in the Transnistrian region.

Earlier, IPN wrote about Maia Sandu’s meeting with U.S. Secretary General Antony J. Blinken on the sidelines of the same event.