Moldova Lacks Public Backing for NATO Membership, Minister Says
Speaking during a televised interview on Saturday, Popsoi was asked whether Moldova should deepen cooperation with NATO or eventually seek full membership. Although he expressed strong support for closer ties with Western security structures, he emphasized that any such move would ultimately depend on public opinion.
Describing himself as “a sincere supporter of everything related to Euro-Atlantic security,” Popsoi nevertheless recognized that support among Moldovan citizens remains insufficient for membership discussions to advance.
“Integration into NATO, as into any other international structure, depends on the will of our citizens. Once there is a significant majority support for joining the North Atlantic Alliance, this can be examined as a natural option... In our case, historically, for various reasons, this significant majority has not existed,” he said.
Recent polling data cited in reports indicates that public sentiment remains largely opposed to joining the alliance. A survey conducted in February found that 55% of respondents would vote against NATO membership if a referendum were held, while only 24% said they would support accession.
Beyond the issue of public opinion, Moldova faces another major obstacle in the form of the separatist region of Transnistria. The territory broke away from Moldova following a brief armed conflict in the early 1990s and has remained outside the control of the central government ever since.
The region continues to host Russian peacekeeping forces tasked with monitoring the ceasefire agreement and protecting large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons and ammunition. According to reports, the unresolved status of Transnistria remains a significant challenge to any future discussions regarding Moldova’s potential membership in NATO.
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