The Moldovan army plans to deploy troops on a UN peacekeeping operation for the first time in August 2022. Twenty personnel will be deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Moldovan Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on its website on 3 November.
Draft parliamentary legislation on the deployment was approved by the cabinet of ministers on that date, the MoD added. In Lebanon, the peacekeepers “will carry out security and guard duty missions in support of military objectives, as well as patrols in their area of responsibility”, operating as part of the Italian contingent, the MoD said, without disclosing the length of the deployment.
Moldova has so far contributed experts and staff officers, but never troops, to UN missions. As of 30 September, 10 Moldovan personnel were deployed on the UN Mission in South Sudan, Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, and UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, according to the UN.
The Moldovan army also participates in NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR). The 15th KFOR contingent deployed in July numbers 41 personnel: a staff officer, seven engineers, and a 33-strong platoon.
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