Often overlooked on the map of Europe, Moldova has quietly become one of the most revealing frontlines of the continent’s security challenges. Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, the small state has been facing a combination of energy pressure, disinformation, political and cyber interference as well as breaches to its territorial and airspace sovereignty, all while pursuing closer integration with the European Union (EU) under the leadership of President Maia Sandu. As Russia tests hybrid tactics aimed at destabilising Moldova and undermining its EU accession trajectory, the country has increasingly become a laboratory for methods that can also be used elsewhere in Europe. Understanding Moldova’s struggles and resilience therefore offers more than an insight into a small Eastern European state; it provides an early glimpse into the broader security and geopolitical pressures that shape Europe today.
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