Lithuanian MP: The Republic of Moldova must invest more in national defense
The Republic of Moldova needs to invest in national defense, even though there are concerns that increasing military spending might negatively impact pensions and salaries. To secure its future, Moldova should develop a comprehensive plan to raise its military budget to at least 4% of GDP. These statements were made by Jighimantas Pavilionis, the Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Seimas of Lithuania, during the "Diplomatic Dimension" program on Moldova 1 TV.
Recently, the new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, urged EU countries to increase their defense budgets, stating that citizens should be prepared to make some sacrifices. In this context, Lithuanian parliamentarian Zygimantas Pavilionis pointed out that military budgets in the Baltic States are around 4 percent of GDP. He emphasized that in Lithuania, for example, pensions and salaries cannot be considered low.
Pavilionis also suggested that the Republic of Moldova should abandon its neutrality, as it cannot afford the same level of defense as Switzerland. He expressed concern about those who advocate for neutrality, labelling them as Russian agents who do not wish well for the country.
“Defense is paramount,” he asserted. “This demonstrates that we are looking towards the future. If you want to live solely for today and ignore what tomorrow may bring, that's your choice. You can forget defense and allocate your entire budget to pensions. However, those who support such measures are neither politicians nor devoted citizens; they are simply agents of the Kremlin. Maintaining neutrality comes at a significant cost if you genuinely want to protect it. If it's merely a pro-Russian sentiment aimed at welcoming aggressors, reminiscent of historical invasions, then we must recognize these as Kremlin agents.”
He acknowledged that Moldova wouldn't be able to reach a military budget of 4 percent of GDP in one or two years. He stressed the importance of a comprehensive plan, effective communication, community campaigns, and volunteer involvement. Pavilionis recommended that the authorities in Chișinău adopt the Baltic States' experience with EU accession and implement radical reforms. He acknowledged that while it would be challenging initially, giving up would not be an option.
“Gather all the recommendations from Brussels and strive to be champions of reform. This is precisely what we did during our negotiations, and by 1999, our economy was growing by 10 percent per year. We were impoverished and lagging behind Bulgaria and Romania, but we ultimately earned the nickname ‘the Baltic Tigers.’ I hope, and this is the great dream of my life, that you will become members of the European Union by 2029. Provided that elections are free and fair, and that Kremlin agents do not infiltrate your parliament. Accelerate your EU integration; you could be the first country in the East to achieve this. When you are at the same table with us, we will toast with Moldovan wine and celebrate our shared success.”
The Parliament in Chișinău approved the National Defense Strategy at the end of last year, which aims to gradually increase Moldova's defense budget to 1 percent of GDP by 2030. According to Global Firepower's ranking, the Moldovan army improved this year, rising 10 positions to rank 134th out of 145 countries.
