Those who do not want to pay for their own army end up paying for the army of the occupier, said Tomasz Kobzdej, Poland’s ambassador to Moldova, in an interview with IPN. According to the Polish diplomat, in order to ensure its security, Moldova needs to look for new partners and invest in defense. Tomasz Kobzdej explained that his country made the decision to join NATO to ensure its security and independence, as the North Atlantic alliance represents the strongest defense shield.
The Polish ambassador noted that after the collapse of the Soviet Union there was complete unity among Poles and the country’s political elite regarding the security model to be chosen. Given the geopolitical situation and geographical location, neutrality was not an option for Poland, and NATO membership proved to be a strong security umbrella, he said.
“Poland made the decision thirty years ago how to be prepared for such situations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, we had several strategic options on the table. There was great unity among political elites and society on the option. Considering our geographical positioning, the geopolitical situation, the military alliance became the only shield that could defend us. Whenever we talk to Moldovans about security, neutrality is mentioned. But for Poland this was not an option. Twenty-five years ago, we made the decision how we make sure we are prepared for military threats and that decision was to join the Alliance. We contributed with our economic and military potential to the development of the Alliance. This is our shield”, said Tomasz Kobzdej.
The Polish diplomat said that although Moldova is a neutral state, the country should invest in defense and security.
“Approaching the North Atlantic institutions through the European Union is an option. After a lot of debate, Moldova is eventually advancing on a path similar to ours. You need to look for partners and invest in defense. It is a necessity, because those who don’t want to pay for their own army will end up paying for the army of the occupiers”, the Polish diplomat emphasized.
According to Tomasz Kobzdej, to combat disinformation, it is necessary to educate the population and develop critical thinking.
“The most affected by the hybrid war are now the Republic of Moldova, Poland, the border countries. What is hybrid warfare after all? It is a combination of conventional methods. The hybrid war in Moldova does not only involve cyber threats and disinformation, but also street protests and destabilization. All this taken together, plus the illegal military presence of the Russian army in the Republic of Moldova. And we in Poland have disinformation and cyber attacks as well. I see enormous potential for consultations between Warsaw and Chisinau on the possibilities of countering hybrid threats. Education is crucial, from this point of view”, explained Tomasz Kobzdej.
The interview with the Polish ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Tomasz Kobzdej, was conducted by the IPN within the project “Developing political culture in public debates”, supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
