CHISINAU โ Moldova's pro-European government intends to press for changes in legislation to allow for the production of weapons, but needs them for its own defence and has no intention of providing them to neighbouring Ukraine, the head of parliament said on Friday.
Parliament Chairman Igor Grosu, the second-ranking official in Moldova's state hierarchy, stated that the legislative modifications were necessary to proceed with the manufacture of dual-purpose equipment, such as drones. Grosu noted that these items are required for national security, emergency response, and agricultural applications.
Grosu, who also leads President Maia Sandu's parliamentary majority Action and Solidarity Party, firmly dismissed any notion that the domestic hardware might be routed to Ukraine for use in its ongoing conflict with Russia. He emphasized that the production efforts are intended solely for national requirements.
Sandu's administration, which maintains an objective of joining the European Union by 2030, has strongly condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Situated between Ukraine and EU member Romania, Moldova has experienced significant regional fallout from the war. Authorities report that an increasing number of drones and missiles, suspected to be Russian, have violated the nation's airspace in recent weeks, resulting in debris landing within its borders.
Addressing an international security forum, Grosu revealed that 88 airspace violations had been documented since the onset of the conflict in February 2022. He acknowledged public concerns regarding the state's capacity to ensure adequate protection, noting that decades of underfunded defense cannot be instantly resolved.
Protecting the national airspace requires comprehensive investments in radar systems, specialized equipment, trained personnel, secure communications, and modern infrastructure. President Sandu previously told the forum that the nation remains regionally vulnerable, affirming that domestic defense manufacturing forms an essential component of future security strategies and that legislative amendments will soon be presented to parliament.