The parliament of the former Soviet republic of Moldova, which has a majority of pro-Western deputies, approved a 10-year defense strategy last night, calling for increased defense spending as part of a plan to join the European Union, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The pro-Russian opposition in parliament ridiculed the document, saying it pointlessly targets Moscow given Moldova's small size and small armed forces.
The document, presented by Defense Minister Anatoly Nosatiy, aims to increase defense spending by 2030. to 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), with statistics showing that spending is already increasing.
“The first step towards meeting this goal was taken after the start of the war in Ukraine, with the defense budget being increased to 0.39% in 2022 and 0.55% in 2023“, the document said.
One of the poorest countries in Europe, located between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is a candidate for EU membership. It is not considering joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as the country's neutral status is enshrined in its constitution.
The document said that Moldova's neutral status requires it to strengthen partnerships with various countries and international organizations to strengthen its national defense.