“According to the strategy, the main risk for the security of Moldova is the “possible expansion” of Russian military operations in Ukraine, “especially in the Odesa region””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The security of the Republic of Moldova is also threatened by “hybrid operations” conducted by Russia directly or through “local intermediaries”. Law enforcement hearings were recently organized in the country’s parliament to understand and prevent future massive vote-buying schemes allegedly used by Russia and Ilan Shor in the October 20 election and referendum.
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Another threat to the country’s security is the Russian military, “illegally stationed on the territory of the Republic of Moldova”, as well as the “armed formations” of the so-called authorities in Tiraspol. The document states that a final settlement of the Transnistrian issue is “unlikely in the coming years” and Moldova wants it to be resolved exclusively peacefully.
The strategy envisages a gradual increase in budget allocations for national defense in order to reach the level of 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 from the current 0.55%.
The project was voted in the first reading by the deputies at the last plenary meeting on December 26.
In the summer, the strategy was positively approved by the government and sent to President Maia Sandu for consultation. Once approved in final reading, public institutions have six months to implement policies in line with this strategy.
Transnistria is a separatist region of Moldova that has not been under the control of Chisinau since 1992. Russia has been keeping about 1,700 troops in Transnistria for over 20 years.
At the beginning of March 2022, the actual authorities of Transnistria called on Moldova to recognize their “independence” and to sign an interstate agreement against the background of the Moldovan leadership’s submission of an application to join the European Union.