Moldova remains neutral, doesn't consider joining NATO for now - Chisinau

CHISINAU. March 14 (Interfax) - Moldova is observing neutrality laid down in its constitution, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Thursday in the parliament, where he presented a report on the government's performance in 2023.

"The principle of neutrality is laid down in the Moldovan Constitution. We observe and sacredly honor neutrality, we do not violate anything, and we call on others to respect [our] neutrality, as well," Recean said.

Opposition MPs asked a question regarding reinforcing the Moldovan army and purchasing radars to control the airspace. In their opinion, "these radars do not protect Moldova."

"You know, but not all of them. Radars are needed, we cannot sit idle in a situation when there is a crisis [in Ukraine] at our borders and drones fly into Moldovan territory," Recean said.

"There is no question of Moldova joining NATO," Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said the previous day.

"Any NATO membership is out of the question at the moment, because there is not enough support in society. But it is needed to discuss this subject [...] We should have a free public discussion about all the pros and cons, and make a decision in such a democratic process. But this is a longer term prospect. At this point, there is no talk about joining or any closer cooperation with NATO, except for what we have had so far," Popsoi said.

Moldova cannot be part of military blocs, he said.

"Moldova has a sovereign foreign policy and can cooperate at the political level, even in the security sector, as we have been doing for 30 years [...]. There are several neutral countries in the European Union, and one does not contradict the other. Therefore, we definitely aspire to [join the EU], and there is already serious progress in terms of our European prospects," Popsoi said.