President Maia Sandu and NATO are discussing the participation of the Republic of Moldova in a possible military conflict against Russia to defend the interests of the United States, pravdorub.md writes. Washington wants to create an even bigger coalition made up of states from Eastern Europe, starting Ukraine and including the Baltic States, Poland and Romania. The narrative about Maia Sandu’s intention to involve the Republic of Moldova in an armed conflict against Russia, or to attack the breakaway region of Transnistria, has been increasingly used by Kremlin-linked media and the Party of Socialists, particularly ahead of the early election on Moldova.
NEWS: “When someone other than NATO is interested in Moldovans fighting Russia to defend the USA’s interests”, the Russian-language publication pravdorub.md writes, in an analysis that promotes the idea that the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance and the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, are planning on involving the Republic of Moldova in an armed conflict against Russia.
The article in question claims that Washington has always tried to lure third-party states in its wars, giving, as example, the 2003 war in Iraq, whereas in fact Chișinău sent troops for the post-conflict international operation in this country, whose purpose was purely humanitarian.
“NATO is building up a new coalition. Now, as Ukraine is pushing its forces towards the conflict zone, when Russia announced it would defend the (self-proclaimed) republics to its east (500,000 inhabitants in the two regions are Russian citizens), when the United States is ready to fight the Russians to the last Ukrainian man standing, when NATO’s leader is talking to Maia Sandu on the phone”. According to the source, “the interests of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance coincide with Maia Sandu’s ambitions. For NATO, the fact that a new post-Soviet Republic if willing to fight against Russia is a win, providing it with an opportunity to take out Russia’s military presence in Transnistria”.
NARRATIVES: 1. NATO is a threat to the Republic of Moldova. 2 With NATO’s support, Maia Sandu is ready to attack Transnistria and engage in a military conflict with Russia.
BACKGROUND: The North-Atlantic Treaty Alliance continues to be the bogeyman for a large part of Moldovan society, which regards NATO from the lens of Soviet, and more recently, Russian propaganda.
The topic becomes particularly sensitive around an election. The statements included in the analysis above also coincide with the recent arguments presented by PSRM leader Igor Dodon, who in turn claims Maia Sandu is advocating NATO’s interests. “We won’t surrender our country to NATO’s plans, because, unfortunately, this is the primary stake in Moldovan politics right now: will Moldova become a military platform for NATO?”, Igor Dodon said shortly after Maia Sandu dissolved Parliament and called an early election on July 11.
PURPOSE: To underscore the danger of involving the Republic of Moldova in an armed conflict and to depict Maia Sandu as a war-monger.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Maia Sandu didn’t have any recent discussion with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as the article purports.
The only official telephone conversation between the two occurred on January 5, shortly after Maia Sandu took over as Moldova’s president.
For that matter, her predecessor, Igor Dodon, had meetings and talks with NATO officials, including Jens Stoltenberg, who said on numerous occasions that they observe and recognize Moldova’s neutrality.
In turn, Maia Sandu has argued a number of times in favor of a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Transnistria.
The Republic of Moldova is a neutral state that lacks any military and/or economic capacity allowing it to take part in an armed conflict, even less so against an adversary such as Russia.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: Maia Sandu wants to modernize the Moldovan Army, including with NATO’s support.
WHO STANDS TO BENEFIT: The Party of Socialists, in order to discredit Maia Sandu; Moscow, in order to fuel anti-NATO sentiment.
