Israel opens first embassy in Moldova

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated Israel’s first embassy in Moldova yesterday, more than 30 years after the two nations established diplomatic relations, the Foreign Ministry announced.

The ceremony took place in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi in attendance.

“This is a historic moment that marks a milestone in the relations between the countries,” Sa’ar said, describing Moldova as “a friendly country to Israel.”

Following the ceremony, Sa’ar met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and extended an invitation for her to visit Israel. Their discussions included regional security concerns, particularly Iran’s influence and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

🇲🇩🇮🇱Today, alongside FM @gidonsaar, I had the honor of attending the opening of the Embassy of Israel in Chișinău!

A significant step in strengthening our bilateral relations, based on mutual respect, shared values and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/FhLX296Z3C

— Mihai Popșoi (@MihaiPopsoi) February 4, 2025

“The Iranian threat is the most urgent,” Sa’ar asserted, while also highlighting concerns about Turkiye’s growing influence in Syria. “Turkiye is currently the most dominant country in Syria, it aspires to be the leader of Sunni Islam in the region,” he warned.

According to the Times of Israel, Israel recognised Moldova’s independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. A year later, the two countries formed diplomatic relations and since 1994 Moldova has had an embassy in Israel.

Until now, Israel had relied on roving ambassadors, with Joel Lion serving as the most recent envoy from Armenia since 2022. Lion has now relocated to Chisinau to oversee diplomatic, trade and tourism relations.

Speaking to Channel 12, Ambassador Lion highlighted Moldova’s existing trade with Israel, pointing to local stores that already stock Israeli products. “These are small things that prove that a good relationship exists,” he remarked, adding that Moldova could become a sought-after destination for Israeli tourists.

“There is enormous potential here for tremendous relations with a country that is heading toward the European Union,” Lion said.

Sa’ar made the decision to open the embassy in December, shortly after assuming his role as foreign minister. His announcement coincided with plans to close Israel’s embassy in Ireland due to Dublin’s recognition of the State of Palestine and support for South Africa’s case against the occupation state of Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) where Tel Aviv faces genocide charges.

Moldova, bordered by Romania and Ukraine, has a long history of Jewish migration to Israel, with an estimated 70,000 Moldovan Jews having immigrated over the years.

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