WHY DO WE NEED TO MODERNIZE THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SYSTEM?
It is well known that the defense sector of the Republic of Moldova has three basic functions, among which we list:
Defending the country by virtue of the National Army’s status as guarantor of sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Providing emergency assistance to civil authorities in crisis management, exceptional situations, and, of course
Participating in and contributing to international peacekeeping missions.
In order to fulfill these basic missions, the state’s army must become modern, mobile, properly equipped, and trained in accordance with contemporary quality standards. The national security of a state depends on the degree of modernization of its defense institution. Thus, the modernization of an army is an axiom and a law known for thousands of years, which consists in adapting the armed forces to the requirements and realities of the present. It represents compliance with the contemporary stage of military progress. Any attempt to modernize the National Army is dependent on the financial capabilities of the state. It is well known that for more than a decade, the budget of the Republic of Moldova has remained at around 0.37% of GDP, which is insufficient for the modernization of the national defense system. Under these circumstances, we can see that the military budget of the Republic of Moldova is among the lowest in the world and the region, and the lowest in comparison with neutral countries and neighboring states comparable in size to the Republic of Moldova.
Since independence, Moldova’s defense system has not undergone any comprehensive military reform aimed at strengthening it.
Under these circumstances, the lack of necessary resources is naturally complemented by bilateral and international partnerships to modernize our defense capabilities. It should be noted that Moldova’s defense sector emphasizes that the modernization of the National Army does not involve increasing personnel or technical capabilities, nor does it involve the acquisition of lethal weapons.
In accordance with the principle of defensive sufficiency, as well as the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Vienna Treaty on the Strengthening of Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, to which our country is a party, the national defense system has assumed a set of tasks and priorities aimed at the following directions of modernization of the Armed Forces:
Replacing mobility platforms, i.e., replacing means of transport (the aim is to replace heavy Soviet-made equipment (from the 1970s and 1980s) with lighter, more mobile equipment that is more economical in terms of maintenance and fuel consumption.
In this regard, the need for sufficient capabilities in terms of logistics support can also be invoked, which involves the acquisition of the necessary equipment for logistics support activities. This will result in much more mobile and faster logistics; Equipment for the military medical system; Protective and mining equipment;
Tactical communications (involving radio stations that every soldier will have; there is a call for a transition from an analog radio system to digital systems, which are much more secure in this regard)
And, of course, surveillance of the operational space (Modernization of early warning capabilities and equipment that allows for real-time surveillance and information detection. All modern defense institutions have switched to this type of operational space surveillance.)
At the same time, modernizing the field of cyber defense remains important.
One of Moldova’s most prolific partnerships in modernizing the national defense system is its collaboration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Moldova’s cooperation with NATO has certainly been the basis for all the modernizations in the National Army, which has been capitalized on in the assistance and expertise provided over the years and which has been related to the reform of the security and defense structure in accordance with international standards.
Another factor with essential effects for the modernization of the security sector is the launch and deepening of cooperation with the EU. Among the recent contributions in this regard, the EU’s assistance for the modernization of the National Army can be mentioned. It should be noted that on June 30, 2022, the European Council decided to grant the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova a package of assistance under the European Peace Facility (EPF). This is to be utilized through several projects aimed at developing the military capabilities of the National Army. In the process of managing and implementing the EPF, the agenda for discussion includes topics related to the technical aspects of implementing EPF projects in the areas of Logistics, Mobility and Transport, Communications (C2), Cyber Defense, and Information Space Surveillance.
Assistance for the modernization of the armed forces falls within the national legislative framework on the defense sector, based on the principle of reasonable sufficiency in relation to ensuring the military security of the state. This is a strictly defensive element and is maintained on the principle of sufficient and reasonable defense in line with the modernization priorities of the military institution. Any kind of assistance is welcome, as long as it does not contravene the country’s neutrality status and is strictly in line with the objectives of transforming the National Army. The Republic of Moldova’s partners respect the constitutional neutrality of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to provide the necessary assistance in modernising the defence institution within the framework of established cooperation relations.
The Republic of Moldova’s permanent neutrality status, stipulated in Article 11 of the Constitution, sometimes creates a misperception in the political environment regarding the impossibility of the Republic of Moldova’s involvement in various cooperation reports, in the field of international collective security, given that the status of neutrality does not contravene international law, international organizations, and established community values, allowing the Republic of Moldova to actively collaborate with international collective and cooperative security structures, including for the benefit of its national security.