Moldova’s Defense Minister, Anatoly Nosatii, said that the country’s neutrality plays an important role for Russia. He argued that Russia uses various hybrid warfare methods to prevent Moldova from strengthening its defense capabilities and cooperating with Western countries, including NATO.
Nosatii emphasized that it is uncomfortable for Russia to see Moldova cooperating with NATO because of its historical doctrine, according to which any ties with NATO are considered undesirable. However, the experience of Moldova’s cooperation with NATO shows otherwise.
He also noted that Russia poses the main threat to Moldova under the new military security strategy. Although Russian troops cannot directly intervene because of Ukraine’s resistance, Russia uses hybrid methods such as propaganda and disinformation to influence Moldova’s internal affairs.
Nosatii also raised the presence of illegal armed forces in Russian-controlled Transnistria. He called it a war crime and emphasized that the presence of these forces poses a real threat to Moldova, raising anxiety and suspicion about their intentions.
