The relationship with the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization ensures the development and modernization of the security and defense sector in the Republic of Moldova. NATO has a great impact through the programs implemented in the country even if the people’s perception of this organization is less good than in 2003 for example, expert of the Foreign Policy Association Victoria Roșca stated in the presentation of the analytical synthesis on the development of Moldova’s foreign policy in 2009-2019, IPN reports.
Victoria Roșa said the spirits were much higher when the country gained its independence and mentality was more open then. The fact that Moldova had been later under different spheres of influence had an impact on the way of thinking of the country’s people. Nevertheless, the impact of the NATO programs remains great. Owing to the support provided by NATO, Moldova can dispatch service members to work on peacekeeping missions. NATO does not impose an agenda and acts based on the interests of the country, which is a great advantage for Moldova.
Natalia Stercul, programs director at the Foreign Policy Association, said the dilemma of the geopolitical choice between the West and Russia’s influence faced by Moldova, and also Ukraine, and consequently the choosing of the European path made the two countries join their forces and laid the basis of productive cooperation, primarily in 2017-2018. Ukraine is an important commercial friend for Moldova, the third after Romania and Russia. The package of commitments between the two countries, where the principle of no implementation in the absence of an agreement is used, continues to be a sensitive issue.
As regards the Russian Federation, the Republic of Moldova has always looked at this as at a strategic partner, but a number of problems were faced during ten years. The signing of the Association Agreement with the EU caused the dissatisfaction of Russia and the relations with Russia remained stagnant until 2017. It is yet certain that the coming of the new power in Chisinau in 2019 laid the basis of the strategic development of cooperation with Russia, stated Natalia Stercul.
Ion Tăbârță, expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”, spoke about the relations with Romania, noting that at governmental level these have always been very good. The basis of these relations was the common Declaration of April 2010 on the establishment of strategic partnership of support by Romania for Moldova’s European course. From economic viewpoint, Romania became the main partner. It also implements multiple projects in education, infrastructure and other areas. Regrettably, the media do not sufficiently cover what Romania does in Moldova.
The expert noted the Western path was the main development course in 2009-2019. Moldova’s relations with the EU went through two development stages. The first stage was in 2009-2014, before the signing and ratification of the Association Agreement, when the DCFTA was negotiated and the visa regime was liberalized. During the second stage, in 2014-2019, a series of problems that were evident when the Association Agreement was being negotiated remained unsolved. These are the problems faced in the justice sector, those related to corruption fighting. The bank fraud and particular discrepancies of the Government of Moldova in 2017-2019 followed.
Parliament Deputy Speaker Mihai Popșoi referred to Moldova’s relations with the U.S. Initially, the country was regarded as a success story and that period ended with the theft of the US$ 1 billion and the closing of doors. A period when the foreign policy was subordinated to the political interests followed. During the Sandu Government that worked for five months, a number of visits were made to the U.S. and the political dialogue with the United States was reaccelerated. As regards the international organizations, such as the UN, GUAM and the Council of Europe, these mainly supervised the Republic of Moldova and promoted good international practices here.
The analytical synthesis on the development of Moldova’s foreign policy in 2009-2019 forms part of the project “Carte blanche of Moldova’s foreign policy – Development of the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova 2009-2019” that is financed by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
