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The security partnership between the EU and the Republic of Moldova aims to militarize the country and push it closer to NATO, the spokeswoman of the Russian MFA, Maria Zakharova claims.
NEWS: The security partnership signed by Moldova and the EU aims to draw Chișinău closer to NATO and to militarize the country, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told a press briefing.
“We understand and know that the European Union has long ago turned into an appendix of NATO”, the Russian official said. “And there is no doubt, taking into account all these factors, that the signing of the aforementioned agreement is actually aimed at continuing, one might argue, of Moldova's NATO rapprochement and the militarization of the Republic. And of course, at eroding its status of neutrality, which, I remind you, was enshrined in the Constitution”.
NARRATIVES: 1. The security partnership signed with the EU is a military document meant to bring the Republic of Moldova closer to NATO. 2. (Implied) NATO and the EU are the same organization, and NATO membership is a prerequisite to becoming a member of the European Union.
BACKGROUND: On May 21, the Republic of Moldova signed the Security and Defense Partnership with the European Union, designed “to further intensify cooperation, to better address common challenges and to strengthen Moldova's resilience”. The Republic of Moldova is the first country to sign such an agreement with the EU.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova is considered the most vulnerable country in the event of the expansion of the Kremlin's military aggression outside Ukraine. The country has a poorly equipped army and also faces a separatist conflict in the east, where a Russian military force is also stationed. The Republic of Moldova is also subject to hybrid attacks from the Kremlin: propaganda, using influential media institutions and social networks, supporting political forces aimed at destabilizing the domestic context and disrupting the EU accession process.
The Republic of Moldova is a neutral state, according to one of the provisions of the controversial Constitution of 1994. Moldova’s cooperation with NATO dates back to the 90s, and one of the most important projects of NATO was the evacuation of significant volumes of pesticides, left over from the Soviet era, which threatened to pollute the environment and poison farmland and water sources.
The North Atlantic Alliance, however, is still described as a scarecrow for a good part of the population of the Republic of Moldova, which sees it through the lens of Soviet propaganda and, more recently, of the Russian Federation. In this context, polls show that around 30% of the country's population would support NATO membership, although the majority population favors preserving neutrality, even though Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the 2008 invasion of Georgia have shown that this status is not a solution in terms of ensuring national security.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government in Chișinău has repeatedly emphasized that it needs to strengthen its security and has received assurances and support from its Western partners to reinforce its defense capabilities. This fueled Russian propaganda narratives about Moldova's plans to join NATO, or even get involved in the war in Ukraine against Russia.
PURPOSE: To remove distinctions and associate the EU with NATO, the organization being generally viewed with distrust by a large part of Moldovan. To promote the idea that EU membership is strictly linked to NATO membership.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Signed on May 21 in Brussels, the security partnership is designed to help the Republic of Moldova combat security threats such as hybrid threats, cyberattacks, and counter manipulation, etc. The document also states that the EU and Moldova will continue to further their cooperation within the European Peace Facility to strengthen Moldova's national security, stability and resilience in the defense sector. “Building on EPF support, the EU will continue to support the Moldovan Armed Forces efforts to enhance their operational effectiveness, accelerate compliance with EU standards and interoperability, and thereby better protect civilians in crises and emergencies”, the document states.
The first article in the Partnership emphasizes the fact that it was signed in the context of “an increasingly challenging security environment inter alia due to ongoing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”. The partnership does not mention anything about NATO or the participation of the Republic of Moldova in military operations.
Independent experts regard the Security and Defense Partnership as a political commitment from the European Union to support the Republic of Moldova. Thanks for this document, EU Member States will help counter hybrid threats and strengthen Moldova’s defense capabilities.
In June 2022, the Republic of Moldova obtained the status of EU candidate country, being presented with nine basic prerequisites related to observing the rule of law, combating corruption, and implementing economic reforms. None of these refer to neutrality / NATO membership. Any country that meets these prerequisites can apply for EU membership. Known as the “Copenhagen criteria”, these terms account for the existence of a stable democracy and the rule of law, a functioning market economy and acceptance of EU legislation.
The narrative claiming that joining NATO is a prerequisite to obtaining EU membership is also false, given that the European community has accepted several neutral states (Ireland, Austria, Sweden, Finland) among its ranks. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership and became members after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when they felt that neutrality did not help safeguard their security.
On the other hand, there are NATO member states that are not members of the European Union, including some from Europe. Turkey, for instance, which has the second-largest army at the level of NATO, has been trying for decades to join the European Union.
In addition, the Republic of Moldova does not have significant military capabilities that would its involvement in the war meaningful. The army of the Republic of Moldova is second to last in the world, according to an annual ranking compiled by Global Firepower.
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