Moldova shifts gears for enhanced NATO cooperation

Moldova, led by pro-Western President Maia Sandu, is strategically aligning with NATO, renewing old and negotiating new partnership programmes, specifically the so-called Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITTP).

Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine suggests that the Russian-backed separatist region of Transnistria will remain a focal point, and the potential for increased tensions cannot be ignored, especially if Russia views its sphere of influence in the region as being jeopardised, The European Correspondent reports.

In this light, enhanced NATO cooperation brings significant benefits, aligning with Moldova's aspirations for EU integration and increasing its security guarantees. However, challenges arise from Moldova's constitutional neutrality, hindering full NATO membership. Moldova enshrined its constitutional neutrality in 1994, in principle, to save as a buffer in relations between the East and West, and to avoid future military conflicts.

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted the Moldovan government to reconsider and look towards deepening NATO cooperation as a precaution. Nevertheless, rising military expenditures face opposition criticism that resonates with the broader Moldovan public, as only 26.5% currently support NATO integration according to a public opinion barometer.