Romania and the Republic of Moldova on Monday signed, at Victoria Palace, the papers for their first joint military procurement under the EU’s SAFE instrument. Prime Minister Luca Niculescu announced the partnership at the ceremony; the project covers multifunctional wheeled transport platforms, with production, integration and final testing in Romania.

An addendum to the 2019 framework agreement with IDV Defence Vehicles S.p.A. (IVECO) was signed by Romania’s General Directorate for Armaments (MApN) and Moldova’s Resource Assurance and Property Management Agency (AARAP). AARAP thus becomes a contracting authority able to buy IVECO trucks for the National Army.

The same day saw subsequent contract No. 4: 62 IVECO trucks in three configurations, paid from Moldova’s defence budget. The 2019 framework covers 2,909 platforms for Romania’s army; 2,039 had been delivered by 30 October 2026. The project sits in Romania’s SAFE defence-industry investment plan.

Niculescu tied the deal to shared security — including drone incursions into airspace — and to strengthening Europe’s industrial base through joint buys. Moldovan Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi spoke of modernising National Army logistics and interoperability; Romanian Defence Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea also attended.

Oprea said the vehicles will be built on the Iveco platform in Dâmbovița county, already used in Romania’s endowment programme. The prime minister stressed jobs and investment at home. Monday’s signatures mark the start of a joint equipment programme, not immediate delivery of the full batch.

Source: Landmark military purchase (Radio Romania Cluj); confirmation: Premiere: Moldova and Romania as SAFE partners (Moldova Defence Ministry)