Moldova to boost military budget under new 10-year strategy
- 27 December, 12:29
Moldova’s parliament on Thursday approved a new 10-year defense strategy aiming to boost the country’s defence spending as part of the EU membership plan.
Presented by Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii, the document was adopted by the country’s pro-EU lawmakers. The document aims to boost Moldova’s defence spending by 2030 to 1 percent of gross domestic product, with figures showing increases already being put into place.
"The first step to implementing this was taken after the war in Ukraine started, by increasing budget resources for defense to 0.39% in 2022 and 0.55% in 2023," the document said.
The document cites risks of the Russia-Ukraine conflict spilling over to the wider region, particularly around Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa, which borders Moldova. Furthermore, the document highlights that Moldova's neutral status requires it to boost its national defences and increase partnerships with different countries and international organizations.
The parliament’s pro-Russian Socialist Party criticized the document as meaningless, suggesting that it was directed against Moscow in view of Moldova's small land mass and armed forces.
"If, God forbid, we are subject to an attack from the direction of the Russian Federation, how long do you think Moldova will resist such aggression?" the party’s member Adrian Albu asked the minister Nosatii.
Bordering Ukraine, Europe’s poorest country Moldova is believed to be next in line for Russia’s invasion. Moldova has two pro-Russian regions – Gagauzia and Transnistria – that leaves Chisinau vulnerable to Russian-incited separatism. The country’s pro-EU president Maia Sandu who was re-elected to a second term in November has backed Ukraine in the war against Russia and criticized Moscow’s interference into Chisinau’s domestic issues.
