The NATO Summit held in Vilnius on July 11-12 transmitted powerful messages of support for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova was reiterated and Russia was firmly requested to withdraw the illegally stationed troops from the Transnistrian region, security and strategic communication expert Elena Mârzac, the founder of the Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN.
“The decisions taken at the summit will help Ukraine to resist. For us, this means that there are now no possibilities for the war to escalate into the Republic of Moldova. For us, the decision is very favorable. If Ukraine becomes a NATO member, we will be a kind of enclave between two NATO member countries and we would then decide how to ensure national security,” said the expert.
She noted that even if Moldova remains a neutral state, the defense capabilities should be further strengthened. “This is an indicator, including a discouragement for the Russian Federation, showing that it is not so easy to come to the territory of the Republic of Moldova, as they considered at the start of the war, as we enjoy the support of NATO, the EU. We also receive unprecedented assistance from the EU to develop our defense capabilities. We enjoy the support of Romania as a member state. The Republic of Moldova forms part of this Western family and supports the position of Ukraine. In case of danger, this will also secure support for us,” said Elena Mârzac.
She also said that Moldova’s participation in the NATO Summit showed the country’s positioning in the European family, but everything depends on the steps that will be taken further. “In general, the cooperation with NATO is based on the principle of demand. We are offered as much as we request, depending on allies’ possibilities,” stated the expert.
She noted that being neutral means having increased defense capabilities and a larger budget for the purpose. “We always like comparing our country with Switzerland, which is a neutral country. But this country doubled the defense budget after the Russian Federation launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. Even Sweden and Finland, which were neutral, acted similarly. How could they become NATO member countries so swiftly? Because they were prepared. Even if now we do not discuss particular coming closer, particular invitation to the Republic of Moldova to become a NATO member country, the path to this status is anyway important. We need to do particular reforms and there is a lot of work to be done to implement reforms, to develop the institutions so that they meet the European and Euro-Atlantic standards,” said Elena Mârzac.
The debate entitled “NATO Summit: Impact on Ukraine and Moldova” was the 285th installment of IPN’s project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
