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.