An air defense system costs hundreds of millions of euros but Moldova’s defense budget is much lower, MP of the Party of Action and Solidarity Radu Marian said after three Russian rockets crossed Moldova’s airspace. According to the MP, the authorities are making effort to strengthen the defense capabilities given that no investments were made in this sector during 30 years. For their part, representatives of the extraparliamentary opposition said the status of neutrality stipulated by the Constitution does not prevent Moldova from looking for allies that would ensure its security, IPN reports.
According to historian Octavian Țîcu, the Republic of Moldova should ask the European states to protect our airspace and such a request should have been made before the start of the war in Ukraine.
‘This thing should have been done long ago but political will was needed for changing the status of neutrality. During 30 years, Russia made sure we do not have an army, do not have a defense system and a counterweight to the separatist regime it supports on the left side of the Nistru. During 30 years, the status of neutrality had been the calling card of all the pro-Russian parties that existed in the Republic of Moldova and of the governments that didn’t at least try to open discussions on the modification of the status of neutrality,” Octavian Țîcu stated in the talk show “Secrets of the Power” on JurnalTV channel.
The Ministry of Defense announced that its specialized bodies identified three missiles that crossed Moldova’s airspace on October 10, between 8:33am and 9:02am. The president of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” Dinu Plîngău said this is defiance of Moldova’s security system.
“Sources in Ukraine said that more rockets crossed the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. We now realize that we have serious security problems. We, as a state, do not have hundreds of millions of euros for a defense system. But the status of neutrality invoked by pro-Russian politicians in Chisinau does not hinder the Republic of Moldova from looking for allies and seeking support when our security is defied,” stated Dinu Plîngău.
The representatives of the government noted that the authorities have asked for support from our Western partners but details of the security strategy cannot be made public.
“It’s not true that requests weren’t made. We cannot openly talk about the defense strategy as we don’t want the people who want to do harm to the Republic of Moldova to possess details. Requests have been made over the past year as we want to increase our defense capabilities and equipment was delivered to us. We have solutions for the most dramatic situations. It’s not right to blame the current government for the lack of action the last 30 years. A defense system costs hundreds of millions of euros. Our annual defense budget is of approximately €50 million,” stated PAS MP Radu Marian.
In a press release, the Ministry of Defense noted that the three missiles that crossed Moldova’s airspace pose a major threat to the country’s infrastructure, especially to civil aircraft. However, the Civil Aviation Authority decided that the national airspace will remain open.
