The partnership with NATO complements the European path of the Republic of Moldova and contributes to the modernization of the security sector, without contravening the country’s constitutional status of neutrality. The message was conveyed by the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Valeriu Mija, during a briefing dedicated to the results of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, reports IPN.
The State Secretary of the MFA, Valeriu Mija, stated that the Republic of Moldova wishes to strengthen its partnership with the North Atlantic Alliance through modernization and reform projects of security institutions. According to the official, cooperation with NATO complements the support offered by the EU and contributes to the development of the country’s defense capabilities.
When asked whether the status of neutrality limits the opportunities of the Republic of Moldova to benefit from guarantees or security assistance from NATO or its member states, the Secretary of State explained that neutrality is a legal status that does not prevent the state from strengthening its self-defense capabilities and seeking support from external partners. He invoked the provisions of the United Nations Charter regarding the right of states to self-defense and gave the example of Switzerland, which, although neutral, constantly invests in its own defense capabilities.
At the same time, the head of the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova, Agne Gleveckaite, reaffirmed that the Alliance maintains its support for the Republic of Moldova and emphasized that NATO and the European Union act complementarily in supporting the country’s resilience and security. In addition, she highlighted the importance of combating disinformation and ensuring accurate communication regarding the cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and NATO.
At the same time, she stated that the modernization of the security sector is already underway thanks to the support of allies and emphasized that NATO and the European Union are complementary organizations, not rivals, in terms of the support provided to the Republic of Moldova.
In turn, the Polish Ambassador to Chisinau, Tomasz Kobz, noted that the statement adopted at the NATO summit in Ankara sends clear messages about the unity of the Alliance and described the meeting as a success. According to the diplomat, the summit confirmed the unity and determination of the Alliance to defend European security and sent a positive signal, including for the Republic of Moldova.
At the same time, he stated that neutrality implies significant investments in defense, citing the examples of Switzerland, Sweden and Finland. The diplomat emphasized that the experience of these countries demonstrates that neutrality status does not exclude the development of strong defense capabilities and cooperation with international partners.
The participants at the briefing reiterated that the support given to the Republic of Moldova aims at strengthening the resilience and defense capabilities of the state, in accordance with the constitutional options and the foreign policy promoted by the authorities in Chisinau.
