The aggressive foreign policy pursued by the Russian Federation is the biggest threat to the Republic of Moldova, says the study “Short and medium-term threats to the Republic of Moldova’s security” that was produced by Moldovan security and strategic communication experts. According to specialists, given the military aggression against Ukraine and the unpredictability of Russia’s actions at foreign level, Moldova’s priority is to strengthen its defense capabilities, IPN reports.
According to the study authors, the Russian Federation is the biggest threat to the Republic of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The war in Ukraine is a relevant example of the aggressive Russian policy and of the full ignoring by Moscow of the rules of democracy and international law.
“We identified one major threat to the security of the Republic of Moldova – the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation. By the large-scale military aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation confirmed the concerns existing for many years - that we can return to events typical of the first half of the 20th century, when pieces of states or whole states can be annexed by using military force. We see the same threat with regard to the Republic of Moldova,” the president of WatchDog Valeriu Pașa stated in a conference held to present the study.
The precarious economic and social situation generated by the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis are also serious threats to the country’s security. According to experts, these weaknesses can be used by national and foreign political players to create destabilization in society. “The economic and energy crises are threats that already have direct effects on each person apart and on society in general. Among the threats are disinformation and manipulation of public opinion. The disinformation campaigns target our European integration course and the political and security partnerships of the Republic of Moldova. These campaigns limit the freedom of choice of the people of the Republic of Moldova and undermine the country’s sovereignty. The Transnistrian region is a threat especially in the context of the war in Ukraine. But we should realize that not everything that Tiraspol does is dictated by Moscow. There are decisions that come from Moscow, but the decision makers in Tiraspol have their own agenda. We should understand where a particular decision of theirs derives from so as to efficiently counteract eventual risks,” said the ex-Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Alexandru Flenchea.
The experts formulated recommendations for the Moldovan authorities for strengthening national security. According to them, given the security crisis in the region, the National Army should be modernized and the defense capabilities should be strengthened.
“Building the defense capabilities of the National Army is a priority. We cannot ensure economic and social development in the absence of national defense. In the medium-term, it is important to integrate the ethnic minorities. It can be opportune to review the school curriculum so as to strengthen the feeling of affiliation to the homeland. It is important to strengthen information security by blocking obscure financing and to strengthen our strategic communication capacities,” said security and strategic communication expert Elena Mârzac.
The study “Short and medium-term threats to the Republic of Moldova’s security” was conducted by the Civil Society Platform in the security and defense sectors with support from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
