Army modernization is needed, Moldova not ready to become NATO member - Moldovan defense minister

CHISINAU. Jan 25 (Interfax) - Moldova at this stage is not ready to become a NATO member due to the poor equipment of its army, Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii said.

It is important to take serious measures for its modernization and re-equipment and to move from old Soviet weapons to Western ones, he said.

"In order to join NATO it is necessary to conduct a number of reforms, to modernize the army, to introduce certain standards, to make a contribution to the budget of the alliance. Let's recognize honestly: we are not ready to become a NATO member at this stage, and the equipment of the national army leaves a lot to be desired," Nosatii said in an interview with Vocea Basarabiei television.

Commenting on the statements by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who said in an interview with Politico the country could give up its neutrality to join a large alliance, the minister said the president had not said she was talking about joining NATO.

"Firstly, President Sandu did not say in that interview that it was about NATO. There are also other alliances, configurations, including on the regional level. Secondly, a wish to join NATO alone is not enough. It's a powerful military-political organization, and just wishing to join it is not enough," the minister said.

It is now necessary to take serious measures to modernize and re-equip the army, to transition from old Soviet weapons to Western ones, he said.

The neutrality chosen by Moldova "left us one-on-one with problems," he said. "I cannot solve the problem of neutrality, to maintain neutrality, which does not guarantee security in any way, or give it up. I don't make decisions on changing our neutral status. I represent the executive authority. A relevant decision needs to be made by politicians, and the opinion of the country's citizens definitely needs to be taken into account," he said.

"But as far as the increase of the defense budget is concerned, it needs to be done regardless of the wish to join an alliance of some kind. Moldova should have a strong army capable of defending the country," Nosatii said.

The Moldovan government has allocated almost 1.7 billion lei (more than $87 million) for defense needs in 2023, increasing the Defense Ministry's budget by 68%. In the meantime, the defense budget is only 0.55% of GDP.