Ukraine crisis brings into the spotlight the idea of 🇷🇴x🇲🇩 unification

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The idea of a unification between Moldova and Romania has been a topic of discussion for decades. This video discusses the the likelihood and prons and cons of such merger in light of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

     ◾ The main idea is that the war in Ukraine showcases Moldova's vulnerability to the Russian threat. As a non-NATO state EU candidate with virtually no army of its own, Moldova is by far the country most likely to be attacked next. Crucially, after merging with NATO member Romania, Moldova would skip the lenghty process of aligning its military command with NATO and instantly be granted security.

     ◾ The idea makes sense if you look at the demographics and history of these nations. Both of these countries' populations are made up of Romanian descendent majorities and both countries speak Romanian. The cultural ties are also evident when you look at these countries' flags.

     ◾ Historically, Moldova and Wallachia started out as small buffer states of the Hungarian Kindgom. They both fell under Ottoman rule and in the year 1812, Russia took half of Moldova (known as Bessarabia) after a war with the Ottoman Empire. Moldova and Wallachia later merged in 1881 to form the Kingdom of Romania with Bessarabia still under Russian control, however it was reincorporated back into Romania in 1918. The region was taken away once again after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, becoming a Soviet republic.

     ◾ After the collapse of URSS in 1991, fearing it will naturally look out to join Romania, Russia invaded Moldova and occupied 10% of its territory. The de facto independent territory of Transnistria remains under Russian occupation to this day and Russian troops are stationed some 40kms from Moldova's capital Chișinău.

     ◾ According to polls, a clear majority of Romanians (anywhere between 67% and 87%) agree or support the idea. In Moldova the percentage is smaller, however the idea is progressively increasing in popularity, the percentage of people supporting the union jumping from 29% in 2008 to 44% in 2021. Around 1/3 of all Moldovans already have Romanian citizenship.

     ◾ Obstacles in the way of union include the Transnistria issue itself and possibilty of new seccesionist movements. In Moldova, a potential separatist province is Găgăuzia (autonomous province of mainly pro-Russians Turkic people) and in Romania, the Hungarian-populated land in Transylvannia might potentially also seek to secede with Hungary's implicit or explicit support. Less importantly, but necessary to mention is that the merger would bring some 200k Russians if we include Transnistria, which could interfer in Romania's internal affairs (however, Estonia, Latvia have significant Russian populations too and they're fine).

     ◾ Even though remains generally unlikely because of the aforementioned reasons, the idea of union will become increasingly talked about in recent years. As seen by the case of Finland and Sweden, all countries in Europe wil need to face the need to align themselves with one bloc or the other. It is clear Russia wants to create a land corridor to Transnistria, so the desire for security will naturally bring new light onto the prospect of a merger for the authorities at both Bucharest and Chișinău.

 

[Guest]

Honestly could be a good idea but it's weird to kinda erase a country like that

[Neroneau 1,017]

I’m such a hypocrite when I read these prospects about any country I’m hyping them up but when it comes to Flemish, Scottish and Catalan secessionism I shut that bitch down 

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6 minutes ago, Neroneau said:

I’m such a hypocrite when I read these prospects about any country I’m hyping them up but when it comes to Flemish, Scottish and Catalan secessionism I shut that bitch down 

But if Moldova and Romania will unite it will be when both decide accordingly, and Russia doesn't get a say because Moldova is already independent.  It will not be neither unilateral seccesion (like northern Cyprus or let's say Catalonia) and neither conquest (like what Russia is doing right now).

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13 minutes ago, AnnaNicoleSmith said:

Honestly could be a good idea but it's weird to kinda erase a country like that

The unification would follow the same model as the unification of West and East Germany. East Germany wasn't necesarily erased but became incorporated into West Germany, as they were historically and culturally pretty much the same. I expect a lot more trade and tourism betwen Romania and Moldova post-unification too, which would be great especially for Moldova who is much poorer than Romania.

[Dennis 8,391]

They should do it before it's too late. Russia is coming for them. And honestly they might fall in a matter of days.

[Debithius 6,056]

The merge has been a topic for a while right? It feels like the talks about this specific merge has always been on the same level as Sweden talking about joining NATO throughout the past 15 years "it's a good idea but there is not a specific reason and we are better off alone". However, it is now a possible reality as soon as Russia is became a threat.

It would be cool if the country was renamed with a new flag :p

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33 minutes ago, Debithius said:

The merge has been a topic for a while right? It feels like the talks about this specific merge has always been on the same level as Sweden talking about joining NATO throughout the past 15 years "it's a good idea but there is not a specific reason and we are better off alone". However, it is now a possible reality as soon as Russia is became a threat.

It would be cool if the country was renamed with a new flag :p

The idea is basically as old as the 1940s when URSS took Bessarabia from Romania. It became a hot topic after the fall of communism, but Russia made sure to "liberate" Transnistria and block the process, then became something in the back of everybody's mind until now when it has a new resurgence because of the war.

This is in part because Maia Sandu (elected in 2021) is Moldova's first real democratic president. Moldova was always ruled by a clique of corrupt pro-Russian oligarchs and Russian propaganda used to rampant at points to a greater extends than in Ukraine which started the desovietization earlier.

The chances for a new name are very small though, in Romanian conscience Romania is already the coming togheter of Transylvania (West), Wallachia (South) and Moldova (East). And the only other option for a flag would be one with the coat of arms which would be also nearly the same as Moldova's. The bison is Moldova's emblem and as you can see, is already on Romania's coat of arms.

[Magui 2,654]

If the people that live in both countries think that they (as country) would be better together, they should be free to do it. However, this should be something that people realize that's what they want for real, cause if after what you see is people demanding an independent Moldova again, and causing tumultuous and stuff like that, it's better to stay the way it is. The politics of both countries, regardless of political ideology, etc... should make a pact together that brings stability to the union regardless who's in the government. Cause everyone knows how corrupted politics are, and how they take advantage of situations, and don't give a damn about what's best for the people.

The interesting thing is i didn't knew how close culturally Moldova and Romania are, until the war in Ukraine started. 

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1 hour ago, AnnaNicoleSmith said:

Honestly could be a good idea but it's weird to kinda erase a country like that

It could be a union more than a merger. Like Scotland & England... or if you want an example slightly less frictional.. Wales & England.... OK no... erm... Wales & Scotland, I guess? 

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Not Zakharova browsing GGD. 

 

[Economy 52,859]

On 7/17/2022 at 8:40 AM, Magui said:

If the people that live in both countries think that they (as country) would be better together, they should be free to do it. However, this should be something that people realize that's what they want for real, cause if after what you see is people demanding an independent Moldova again, and causing tumultuous and stuff like that, it's better to stay the way it is. The politics of both countries, regardless of political ideology, etc... should make a pact together that brings stability to the union regardless who's in the government. Cause everyone knows how corrupted politics are, and how they take advantage of situations, and don't give a damn about what's best for the people.

The interesting thing is i didn't knew how close culturally Moldova and Romania are, until the war in Ukraine started. 

Neither did I tbh. For some reason I pictured Moldova as Simmilar to Belarus or something. A small northern Country with Russian like culture

 

But then again I knew next to nothing about Moldova until this all started

[Economy 52,859]

On 7/17/2022 at 7:04 AM, AnnaNicoleSmith said:

Honestly could be a good idea but it's weird to kinda erase a country like that

Why is it so weird? Borders and countries changed so often throughout human history. Even in modern times there have been changes

 

It's not like a people's culture has to disappear

 

Quebec joined Canada (an English Federation) over 150 years ago and to this day their culture remains unique to the rest of Canada. It's not as if cuz when country doesn't exist by name and border anymore like ur causing cultural erasure especially when it isn't a forced anexation but a willing merger

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1 minute ago, Economy said:

Neither did I tbh. For some reason I pictured Moldova as Simmilar to Belarus or something. A small northern Country with Russian like culture

 

But then again I knew next to nothing about Moldova until this all started

Funnily Moldova and Romania both speak Romanian, which is closer to Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian than Russian.   So if you were to watch the news or a movie in Moldova you will be able to understand them better than if you were in Russia or Belarus. 

[Economy 52,859]

1 minute ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Funnily Moldova and Romania both speak Romanian, which is closer to Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian than Russian.   So if you were to watch the news or a movie in Moldova you will be able to understand them better than if you were in Russia or Belarus. 

I speak Portuguese I should try this

 

Another thing I learned lol. I thought Romanian was more Simmilar to Northern European Slavic languages