MOLDOVA

In 2025, Moldova is a country under high tension, caught between its affirmed European alignment and the pressure exerted by Russia on its neighborhood. President Maia Sandu, re-elected in late 2024 with an enhanced majority, pursues a determined pro-European policy with the objective of accelerated integration into the European Union. Accession negotiations officially commenced in 2024, rendering Moldova a symbolic front in the confrontation between the West and Moscow.

However, this European trajectory is accompanied by internal tensions and external interference. Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region in the east of the country, remains a major flashpoint. The Moldovan authorities have intensified their efforts to reintegrate the zone into the national fold, but the presence of Russian troops (theoretically "peacekeeping forces") and Transnistria's economic ties to Moscow make any concrete development difficult. In 2024, several incidents were reported along the administrative border, and the risks of armed provocations persist. 

In the autonomous region of Gagauzia, which is predominantly Russian-speaking and pro-Russian, tensions have increased due to the rejection of the central government's pro-European policies. Demonstrations have taken place in Comrat, and certain local leaders denounce political marginalization. 

Pro-Russian parties, although electorally weakened, continue to exert influence via the media, social networks, and disinformation campaigns. Destabilization attempts through protests and cyberattacks attributed to Moscow-affiliated groups were recorded in 2024.

On the economic front, Moldova still depends heavily on international aid and remittances from its diaspora. Inflation remains high, energy is expensive, and infrastructure is aging. However, EU aid, foreign investment, and the administrative simplification initiated by the Sandu government contribute to a positive medium-term dynamic.

The security situation remains generally stable in the areas controlled by Chisinau. Nevertheless, risks are higher :

Along the border with Ukraine, owing to the ongoing conflict, with risks of spillover or weapons proliferation. 

In the separatist zone of Transnistria, all travel is discouraged, particularly outside Tiraspol. 

Political demonstrations, although peaceful in the majority of cases, could escalate if they were to be instrumentalized by actors hostile to the government.

For travelers, Moldova is a relatively safe destination in its central and western parts, provided that Transnistria is avoided and official security recommendations are followed.