Introduction

In a year that has seen conflict and crises around the world, optimism has often felt in short supply. However, our recent trip to Chișinău, Moldova provided a welcome respite from the geopolitical gloom of 2025. At a time when Europe is struggling to navigate an increasingly fraught relationship with the United States and marshal a collective response to an uncertain security environment, Moldova has emerged as a notable bright spot. During our November 2025 trip to Moldova, as part of our project exploring the future of the US-Moldova defense and security partnership, we saw a country that has risen to meet new and familiar challenges – not only providing a strong example of democratic resilience but a welcome counterpoint to skeptics of the value of international partnerships in advancing shared security.

Moldova in Transition

Located just beyond the Black Sea, nestled between Romania and Ukraine and at the strategic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe, Moldova has long been seen as a frontier in Russia’s campaign to re-establish a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow has supported a separatist enclave in the country’s eastern region of Transnistria and used various tools of statecraft and coercion to discourage Moldova’s drift towards Europe or political liberalization.  

But spend any time in Chișinău, the capital city of a country with less than three million people, and it’s clear that Moldova has made hard-fought gains on a transformative path towards democratization and European integration. To be sure, there have been challenges, setbacks, and uneven progress. Yet, as expressed to us in meetings with government officials, academics, and civil society experts, there is clear pride in what Moldova has achieved, especially in the face of an intensive Russian campaign to undermine Moldova’s transformation.

Elias Yousif and Rachel Stohl in Chișinău in November 2025.

Indeed, we arrived in Moldova just a few short weeks after what may have been one of the most significant tests of Moldova’s democratization project. Elections held in late September would determine whether parliamentary control would remain with President Maia Sandu’s reform-oriented and pro-European party or would fall to a Kremlin-backed opposition bloc. But despite the hundreds of millions of dollars Russia poured into the hybrid warfare campaign to tilt the outcome in its favor – with activities ranging from disinformation, to cyber-attacks, to the instigation of street violence and a promise of cash for votes – a multidimensional response by Chișinău allowed Moldovans to deliver a decisive victory for the Sandu government, which earned 55 out of 100 parliamentary seats.

And while the success of Moldova’s counter-hybrid warfare campaign illustrated the depth of experience and expertise Chișinău has developed over the years, those we spoke to were also eager to express the synergistic and mutually beneficial role international partnerships had played in the process. Indeed, one of the key takeaways from our trip was that Moldova represented a welcome “good news story” of how international assistance, when thoughtfully coordinated and applied, can be greater than the sum of its parts and deliver tangible returns for both donors and recipients.

The Importance of International Partnerships 

During our trip we met with representatives of the Moldovan government, civil society, and international organizations to discuss the future of Moldovan security. Funnily enough, in almost every conversation it was only a matter of time before the topic turned to Moldovan wine. While this might seem an odd tangent in discussions about defense and security issues, in many ways the anecdote provided a useful analogy for how foreign support has been transformational for the country. Although Moldova has long been a wine-making country, support from USAID programs enabled a substantial redevelopment and restructuring of the sector, leading to a surge in exports to new markets in the West and an entirely novel draw for tourism. Moldova’s agricultural and rural sectors saw substantial benefit, and the project created shared goodwill and strengthened the public perception of the United States, to say nothing of new access to especially good Moldovan wine Americans can now enjoy at home

The U.S. contribution to the wine industry was just one of a number of stories we heard about the measurable and tangible impact that U.S. support has had in Moldova. From better road transport to stronger cyber security infrastructure to more sophisticated defense and security sector strategy processes, we heard numerous examples in which U.S. support defied the stereotype of foreign aid as wasteful charity. And beyond the soft power benefits of these programs, many resulted in concrete strategic returns for Washington.

Perhaps the best example of this symbiosis has been international support for Moldova’s counter-hybrid warfare capabilities. Drawing in international assistance and discrete support from international donors, Moldova has managed to knit together a robust, interdisciplinary, and strategically coherent approach to countering hybrid security threats. As we heard at the Moldova Security Forum, the Moldovan achievements in this sector – exemplified by the resilience of Moldova’s democratic processes during Russia’s effort to disrupt parliamentary elections – represent an incredible well of best practice that should be of interest to foreign donors.  

Indeed, during our meetings and conversations, we were struck by the value-proposition Moldovan expertise in this sector presented to the United States. The development of early warning systems, counter-disinformation approaches rooted in civil-society engagement, or specific technical security response protocols have all provided important lessons for protecting democratic processes, securing critical infrastructure, and integrating various security approaches to confront external interference. In practical terms, Moldova has been able to translate foreign support into a depth of expertise that allows it to position itself not just as a beneficiary of support, but a partner for shaping new models of defense and resilience.

The Presidential Palace in Moldova

The Future of the U.S.-Moldova Partnership

Though not necessarily known as a tourist destination, we were quickly enamored with Chișinău’s hospitality and consumed by its culinary scene – perhaps to excess. We’d rather not reveal exactly how many plăcinte (savory dough pies) we ate during our brief visit but suffice to say we discovered that they paired well with just about anything, including other plăcinte.

Moldovan wine (left) and plăcinte (right).

But more important than the sarmales, the zeama soups, or even Moldova’s extraordinary wines, was the enthusiasm and warmth of all those with whom we crossed paths. Indeed, while the insights of those we interviewed were invaluable, we were especially struck by their eagerness to share their time and expertise, how quick they were to connect us with colleagues or additional resources, and their gracious candor and kindness. In that atmosphere, it was easy to share in the sense of hope that pervaded the atmosphere of our discussions.

Nevertheless, the pride in what has been achieved in Moldova’s transformational project is a reminder of just how much is at stake for the country’s future. While we heard a message of optimism, it was not unbridled and reflected a recognition of the myriad of uncertainties and challenges ahead. Perhaps most important of these concerns was the possible outcomes of the conflict in Ukraine amidst the dizzying and inconclusive ebb and flow of peace negotiations. But whatever the circumstances, it is clear that international support will remain crucial to securing Moldova’s hard-won gains and enabling its continued progress.

So, in addition to several bottles of duty-free wine, we’ve returned home with a sense of cautious optimism as well. Even at a time when there is growing skepticism towards international partnerships in Washington, we see a strong, interest-based case for greater US-Moldovan collaboration. The fruits of past collaboration are visible in Chișinău and should remind policymakers of what can be achieved through durable, intentional, and thoughtful partnerships.

Header image: Elias Yousif, left, and Moldovan Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatîi speaking on a panel on hybrid threats in the Black Sea at the 2025 Moldova Security Forum.