Chisinau, 30 May 2024( TDI): The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova for energy security and to counter Russian disinformation as the pro-western leaning countries struggle to blatant Moscow’s influences in their countries, according to the US officials.
Antony Blinken started a short visit to Eastern Europe with a stop in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. He announced assistance at a news conference with President Maia Sandu.
America’s top diplomat said $85 million would go to bolster energy infrastructure and $50 million was aimed at overhauling the energy and farming industries and deterring disinformation.
“Today, I’m announcing that we’ll be working with our Congress to provide an additional $50 million to advance further these efforts from reforming the energy and agricultural sectors to pushing back and further against disinformation,” said Blinken during a joint press conference with Moldova President Maia Sandu.
Also read: US Secretary of State meets Moldova’s Prime Minister
Moreover, he said that the assistance would bolster the ability of Moldova to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration to create more economic opportunity.
Moldova has accused Russia of waging a hybrid war through election interference and disinformation campaigns aimed at toppling the government and hindering its EU aspirations. Russia denies these accusations.
In Chisinau, Blinken met pro-European President Maia Sandu and other senior officials. Under the Presidency of Maia Sandu, Moldova has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and set its side on joining the European Union.
It has sharply reduced its dependence on Russian natural gas and diversified its energy reliance on other neighboring countries.
Moldova, which held a referendum in October to cement its bid to join the EU into its constitution, is a vocal supporter of Ukraine and saw its security as closely tied to Kyiv’s ability to hold back Russian forces.
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