Presidential State Visits to Moldova and North Macedonia

Presidential State Visits to Moldova and North Macedonia

#GS-3 #Current Events #International #Foreign Policy

Why in News

  • The President of India recently completed official state visits to the **Republic of Moldova** and the **Republic of North Macedonia**.
  • This trip marks the **first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State** to either of these European nations.

Key Highlights of the Visit to Moldova

  • India decided to double the training capacity for Moldovan professionals under the **Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)** program.
  • The President spoke at the **India-Moldova Business Forum** to promote two-way trade, investment, and dependable supply networks.

Geographical and Strategic Profile of Moldova

  • Moldova is a landlocked nation located in **Eastern Europe**.
  • Romania borders the country to the west, while Ukraine surrounds it on the north, east, and south.
  • The **European Union (EU)** granted Moldova **EU candidate status** in **2022** along with Ukraine.
  • The country carries high strategic relevance due to the neighboring **Russia-Ukraine conflict** and the presence of the breakaway territory called **Transnistria**.

Key Highlights of the Visit to North Macedonia

  • The President paid respects at the memorial of **Goce Delčev**, a **19th-century** leader who fought to free Macedonia and Adrianople from **Ottoman Empire** rule.
  • India warmly supported North Macedonia's decision to join global platforms like the **International Solar Alliance (ISA)**, **Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)**, and **Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)**.
  • India doubled the **ITEC** training slots for North Macedonia, giving special attention to skill development in **Artificial Intelligence (AI)**.

Geographical and Strategic Profile of North Macedonia

  • North Macedonia is a landlocked nation positioned on the **Balkan Peninsula** in **Southeast Europe**.
  • It shares boundaries with **Kosovo** to the northwest, **Serbia** to the north, **Bulgaria** to the east, **Greece** to the south, and **Albania** to the west.
  • The country officially changed its name from Macedonia in **2019** after settling a long naming disagreement with Greece, which paved the way for its **NATO** entry.
  • Geographically, it serves as an essential transit corridor linking the **Mediterranean Sea** with **Central Europe**.
  • Its capital city, **Skopje**, is the birth city of **Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa**, creating a deep historic connection with India.