Moldovan parliament votes National Defence Strategy for 2024-2034

Chisinau, 26 December /MOLDPRES/ - The National Defence Strategy 2024-2034 was voted in parliament today. The document was worked out by the Commission set up under the Decree by Moldova’s President, made up of representatives of the institutions with powers in the defence sector and was criticized by the parliament’s opposition.  
Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii unveiled the Strategy. He said that the document had been worked out in accordance with the legal obligation of updating the National Defence Strategy, as a direct consequence of the National Security Strategy, approved in 2024. The Strategy has at its basis the provisions of Moldova’s Constitution, including the neutrality status, the Law on the national defence, the government’s action Programme, as well as the international commitments taken by Moldova.    
„The Strategy shows a clear vision and the firm commitment for the modernization of the defence sector and the integration in the European security mechanisms, in its capacity of state which speaks out for peace and well-being. Each goal established is a concrete step towards a safer and more prosperous future for our citizens,’’ Nosatii said.  
According to the quoted source, the general objectives of the defence policies include: development and modernization of the national defence capacity; aligning with the European Union’s standards; deepening of the cooperation and partnership relations at the bilateral, regional and international levels in the field of military defence and security; Moldova’s positioning as regional and international provider of security and stability. The implementation of the defence policy regards also the continuous growth of the military capacities, ensuring the functionality of the Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions, training the residents and the country for crisis situations, as well as the development of the capacities of supervision and control of the air space.   
Another central goal is the approximation of the national legislation to the European Union’s one in the defence sector. Also, the Strategy provides for the enhancement of the operational capacity and of the cyber defence, modernization of the critical and energy infrastructure and the optimization of the education and research in the security and defence sector.  
The defence minister stressed that the strategy approached also the constitutional status of permanent neutrality as factor with impact on the defence policy. ‘’Moldova observes the constitutional neutrality status assumed through non-allowing the deployment of military troops of other states on the national territory, non-accession to military alliances and non-participation in armed conflicts. Nevertheless, the illegal presence of Russia’s military forces on the territory of Moldova makes difficult the international recognition of this status. At the same time, the neutrality does not represent a hindrance for the development of the cooperation with the partner states and organizations in the security and defence sector,’’ Nosatii noted.      
The head of the parliament’s commission for national security, defence and public order, Lilian Carp, said that the document had been subjected to consultations and was back by most lawmakers.
The document, discussed in the parliament’s plenum during one hour, was severely criticized by the parliamentary opposition.