Neutrality does not mean a lack of defense, but the need to be prepared – this is the message conveyed by the Defense Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, when asked how he sees the maintenance of Moldova’s neutral status in the current regional security context. Troels Lund Poulsen, who is on a visit to Chisinau, told IPN in an interview that Denmark supports the strengthening of Moldova’s defense capabilities and the initiation of bilateral cooperation in this field.
“This is a question for the politicians and the Government of the Republic of Moldova. But neutrality does not exclude the need to be able to defend yourself and your country. I have also noticed that this government intends to invest more in defense, in new capabilities, and to start this defense cooperation with Denmark. I think this can be a good direction for Moldova”, the Danish official noted.
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Troels Lund Poulsen said that he is fully aware of the situation in the Republic of Moldova and emphasized that, from the European perspective, supporting Moldova’s European path is a priority for him.
Denmark’s defense minister was asked about the frequent invocation of neutrality by pro-Russian parties and to what extent he believes the concept has been politicized. “First of all, I think it’s obvious that Russia has been active in spreading disinformation and other – I would say – serious things, with the aim of undermining the government here in the Republic of Moldova and the work of the parliament. So disinformation is indeed a reality. However, it is natural to have different opinions between parliamentary parties”, the official says.
Troels Lund Poulsen also said that he understands that elections are coming up in September and Moldovan citizens will have the opportunity to cast their vote. In his opinion, it is extremely important to ensure a secure environment for these parliamentary elections so that democracy has a fair chance.
“This is all the more essential in the current context in which various actors are trying to spread misinformation about what is happening in your country”, the Danish defense minister told IPN.