DISINFO: NATO and the EU force Moldova to buy military equipment
SUMMARY
The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova stated that a radar system will soon be installed in the republic, a radar system that will be transferred to Western European countries. [...] Why does constitutionally neutral Moldova need such serious systems, radar military systems, and why are they purchased, what is the state budget money, taxpayers’ money spent on?
But they (Moldovan authorities) are friends with the European Union, they are friends with NATO. There, the military-industrial complex makes this or that military equipment, it needs to be sold somewhere. They tell to Maia Sandu or to Minister of Defense of Moldova that if you want to join NATO, you want to join the European Union, you need to buy this equipment. We are still selling this to you at a reasonable price. They are simply forced to buy it all.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Moldova is under foreign control and its authorities act only on orders from abroad, mixed with a narrative about the militarisation of Moldova, despite the neutral status of the country.
After the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova declared as a priority the strengthening of the defense capabilities of the Republic of Moldova in the face of hybrid threats from Russia. That does not have an impact on the country's neutrality status.
Already at the end of 2022, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova announced that it had increased the defense budget for 2023 by two thirds (68%) compared to the previous year. At the peace conference in Munich in February 2023, President Maia Sandu asked external partners for help in providing the country with anti-missile defense systems. Prime minister Dorin Recean also declared that Moldova will continue improving its military capacities. So it cannot be said that NATO or other external partners "force" the Republic of Moldova to buy military equipment.
Se here a similar case claiming that by improving its defense capacities, Moldova is preparing for a confrontation with Russia.