NATO is a purely defensive alliance and for Poland it represents a security shield, Poland’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Tomasz Kobzdej, stated in an interview with IPN News Agency. According to the Polish diplomat, the purpose of the Embassy of Poland in the Republic of Moldova, as a point of connection between the Republic of Moldova and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is to explain to Moldovan society the benefits of joining the North Atlantic Alliance based on Poland’s experience.
Since January 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Chisinau has also been the point of contact with NATO. The Polish ambassador to the Republic of Moldova explained that the entity is not a NATO representative office and does not perform tasks intended for the Alliance’s bodies. The role of the Embassy is to act in the sphere of communication and public diplomacy.
“Because of our common past, because of our common experiences, we get along very well. We have the perception of common threats. We know very well where the threat comes from, where the risks to our sovereignty, independence and stability come from. We are not a NATO embassy. NATO has an official liaison office here in Chisinau. We are the embassy of one of NATO’s allies and every time I talk to my interlocutors in Brussels, with those from the NATO headquarters, I ask them to explain that our role is to support NATO’s public diplomacy. I’m often asked to explain the benefits of NATO membership. Poland is a reliable interlocutor on this subject because our experience is very extensive. When Poland explains what NATO means, it sounds credible. NATO is not an offensive alliance; it is a purely defensive alliance. NATO is a shield for Poland,” said the Polish diplomat.
He noted that the mission of the Embassy as a point of connection with NATO is to explain to society the advantages of the entry into the North Atlantic Alliance based on the experience of Poland, which joined NATO in 1999.
“We talk to different groups in society. We talk to different segments of the population, mainly to young people. We know that the Moldovan society is very divided in terms of security, but especially when it comes to cooperation with NATO. At the same time, this year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the partnership between NATO and the Republic of Moldova. This means that NATO’s presence in the Republic of Moldova is a lasting one. The NATO headquarters seems to be happy with our role, and our mission was recently extended until 2026 as a contact point in the relationship with NATO. Truly, our embassy has three mandates. We represent Poland, we represent NATO as a point of connection, but we also represent the European Union,” explained Tomasz Kobzdej.
The interview with Poland’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Tomasz Kobzdej, was conducted by IPN News Agency as part of the project “Developing Political Culture Through Public Debates”, which is supported by the German “Hanns Seidel” Foundation.
