Instead of emphasizing strategic needs, such as medical protection equipment, Chisinau has made an abundant request to NATO, which makes its implementation unrealistic, writes the researcher Dionis Cenuşa in the analytical article for the IPN News Agency.
The researcher emphasizes that Moldova is among those eligible for Euro-Atlantic assistance due to participation in the Peace Partnership (since 1994).
He observes that the request for help from the Moldovan authorities was received by the Alliance on April 1. At that time, Moldova registered 423 cases of infection and 5 deaths. NATO's response was published the next day (April 2, 2020), and immediately forwarded to all Member States, adds Dionis Cenuşa.
According to him, it is clear from the request to NATO that Moldova's preparation for the health crisis is precarious, and comprehensive assistance is needed. Some units requested by Moldova numbered hundreds of thousands or even millions of units, such as single-use suits (1 million) or examination gloves (14 million), the researcher points out.
He argues that Moldova could underscore strategic needs, such as medical protection equipment, which would make the move more realistic.
Ukraine and Georgia, which also turned to NATO for help on February 23 and April 4, respectively, had a more realistic approach, argues the researcher. He believes that these countries have requested assistance in a feasible volume (Ukraine - 10 types of units) or have provided well-defined coordinates (Georgia).
So far neither they nor Moldova has received the requested assistance, argue Dionis Cenuşa. The reasons may derive from the high and concomitant needs in most Member States, but also from NATO’s prioritization of beneficiaries.
The researcher believes that in the case of Moldova there may be an additional reason. Thus, he believes that after the ousting of the pro-Western government of Maia Sandu (November 2019), the Socialists and President Dodon re-focused foreign policy on promoting the status of neutrality, as an element of restoring strategic relations with Russia.
The relative decrease in the quality of the political dialogue between Moldova and NATO may have reduced somewhat sympathy from the Euro-Atlantic allies, the researcher concludes.
