DISINFO: US arms Moldova for war with Transnistria
SUMMARY
The US arms Moldova for war with Transnistria. All these weapons, if we recall the American experience of equipping and strengthening the Georgian army with the subsequent aggression against South Ossetia, can only be directed against the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).
RESPONSE
In line with the pro-Kremlin narrative about the Transnistria region of Moldova and also about military cooperation of Moldovan Army with other countries, presenting any help or military exercises as focused against Russia or its controlled territories. According to the logic presented in the disinformation message, only Russia is allowed to arm itself, where as other nations doing the same will be immediately deemed as agressive, Russophobic, too small to be defendable from the Russian army and thus just pointless exercise by the pro-Kremlin media.
The claim refers to the delivery to Moldova, on 26 September 2021, of a batch of military equipment from the US Government. As it is stated in the press release of the US Embassy in Moldova: ”The United States is helping Moldova modernize its defenses in order to protect its neutrality and sovereignty”. The Moldovan government contributed $1 million toward the $5 million purchase from the US in order to "continue the National Army’s transformation into a force that contributes to national defense".
Also, a Ministry of Defense press release stated that the equipment "is intended to increase capacity and interoperability for participation in international peacekeeping operations".
See here a similar case claiming the US is considering the possibility of using special forces against Transnistria and here a case about president Maia Sandu being ready to attack Transnistria with the support of Ukraine.