India, Moldova discuss UNSC reforms, fight against terror

📌 Summary:

• President Droupadi Murmu landed in Chisinau on a state visit — the first Indian head of state to visit Moldova since diplomatic relations were established in 1992

• India and Moldova discussed reform of multilateral organisations, including the UN Security Council, and cooperation in the fight against terrorism

• Murmu held bilateral talks with Moldovan President Maia Sandu covering trade and investment, digital transformation, information technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, culture and capacity building

• MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George briefed that both sides stressed the importance of UNSC reform

• Murmu presented a bust of Mahatma Gandhi to President Sandu and laid a wreath at the Monument of Stefan cel Mare si Sfant (Stephen the Great)

• She met Moldovan parliament speaker Igor Grosu and the India-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship Group, and jointly addressed the India-Moldova Business Forum

• Sectors flagged for cooperation: digital public infrastructure, innovation, food processing, logistics and skills development

• Indian business delegation of about 20 members spanning agritech, IT, consulting, defence, e-commerce, engineering, construction, hospitality, manufacturing and pharma

• Around 2,000 Indian students study in Moldova, mainly medicine

• Strategic rationale: India is diversifying its European engagement beyond major Western powers such as France and Germany; Murmu will also visit North Macedonia and Romania

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — bilateral and multilateral groupings, India's foreign policy outreach to Eastern Europe, and the long-running demand for UN Security Council reform.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Moldova is a landlocked Eastern European country; capital Chisinau; President Maia Sandu
• India-Moldova diplomatic relations established in 1992
• Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) is a revered Moldovan national figure
• Murmu is the first Indian head of state to visit Moldova
• Same tour covers North Macedonia and Romania

🔑 Key Term: UNSC Reform — the demand to expand the UN Security Council's permanent and non-permanent membership and revisit the veto, to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities; India pursues it through the G4 grouping (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan).