Abstract. The US plans to resolve the Trans-Dniester problem by forcing the withdrawal of Russian peace-keeping forces from the Trans-Dniester Moldavian Republic (TMR) are explained by Romania’s readiness to deploy elements of the European Anti-Missile Defense on its territory. The US plans meet the interests of both Bucharest and Chisinau. However if realized they may provoke Romania and Moldova to use force against the TMR and establish their own unified state. The unification of Romania and Moldova that will thus disregard the historical and ethnic specificity of South-Eastern European territories may result in violent inter-ethnic conflicts there.