Bucharest, 2 November 2026 – Romania and the Republic of Moldova are strengthening defense cooperation through an agreement for the joint acquisition of military vehicles manufactured by the Italian company Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV). The arrangement marks the first joint initiative between the two countries under a military procurement program linked to the European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument.
The ceremony was held at Victoria Palace in Bucharest, in the presence of Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu, Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea, and his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatîi.
The deal will enable the Moldovan Armed Forces to acquire 62 new Iveco military trucks, strengthening their logistical and operational capabilities and promoting greater interoperability with the Romanian Army.
An agreement involving nearly 3,000 military vehicles
The arrangement falls under the framework agreement signed on 2 December 2019 between the Romanian Ministry of Defense and Iveco Defence Vehicles for the supply of 2,909 multifunctional military transport platforms in 16 configurations.
As of 30 October 2026, 2,039 vehicles had already been delivered to the Romanian Army.
Under the new agreement, the Republic of Moldova formally joins the program through an addendum allowing its Agency for the Management of Military Resources and Property to act as the contracting authority.
At the same time, a specific contract was signed with IDV Defence Vehicles for the supply of 62 trucks in three different configurations, intended to modernize the Moldovan Army.
The purchase of the Moldovan vehicles will be funded through the national defense budget, while the Romanian program is included in the investment plan related to the European SAFE instrument.
Production in Romania, Italian technology
A key aspect of the deal is the involvement of Italy's defense industry.
The vehicles are manufactured at Iveco's plant in Petrești, in Romania's Dâmbovița County, an industrial facility that contributes to the production of transport platforms for the Armed Forces.
Iveco Defence Vehicles' manufacturing presence in Romania is an important component of European industrial cooperation, benefiting the local manufacturing supply chain, employment, and the development of technological capabilities in the military sector.
Modernization of the Moldovan Army and regional security
For the Republic of Moldova, the acquisition of the new vehicles represents another step toward renewing its military vehicle fleet, which still includes platforms dating back to the Soviet era.
The new Iveco trucks will help improve the transport, resupply, and mobility capabilities of military units, while supporting the adoption of operational standards more compatible with those of European Armed Forces.
The agreement is particularly significant in the current security context of Eastern Europe, marked by the war between Russia and Ukraine and growing requirements to strengthen regional defense capabilities.
Moldovan Minister Anatolie Nosatîi stressed that the initiative represents a new phase in bilateral cooperation, aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities and interoperability of the two armies.
On the Romanian side, Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea reiterated the importance of Bucharest's support for the military modernization of the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing the strategic value of cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement therefore represents a significant step toward greater European defense integration and confirms the role of Italian industry in supplying military platforms to Eastern European armed forces.
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