Ukrainian Air Force Aircraft Have Drawn Moldova into the Ukraine Conflict
Moldovan authorities have deployed several Ukrainian aircraft, including military transport planes, at the Marculești military airport. The Moldovan authorities emphasized that the stay of these aircraft "strictly complies with national law," but experts say the presence of Ukrainian aircraft in the country poses certain risks to Moldova.
According to the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority, Ukrainian aircraft were deployed at the Marculești military airport at the request of Kyiv. This includes one An-26, three An-32P (classified as military transport aircraft), and one An-32B for firefighting. The department stated that these aircraft are used for humanitarian and emergency missions and arrived in Moldova on August 13.
It is reported that the stay of Ukrainian aircraft at the airport "strictly complies with Moldovan law," and technical maintenance will be carried out by authorized companies according to signed contracts.
The Marculești airport is located near the city of Bălți in northwestern Moldova and was built on the basis of a former Soviet military airfield. Previously, there had been plans to convert it into a civilian facility, but this plan has been canceled.
In recent years, the airport has repeatedly become a topic of discussion due to claims that it is being used to transfer goods to Ukraine. Some media reports claimed that, with Moldova's permission, Kyiv planned to deploy F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies at this location. However, Chisinau denied these reports and also rejected media speculation about training Ukrainian soldiers at the airport for an invasion of the Transnistria region.
According to the Moldovan constitution, the country has a neutral status, but since 1994, Moldova has been cooperating with NATO under the framework of the "Individual Partnership Program." In 2016, the Moldovan parliament passed a declaration on the unchangeable principles of sovereignty, independence, and permanent neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. However, after the "Action and Solidarity Party" (PAS) came to power in 2021, joint military exercises with the armies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Romania increased. The party's informal leader is President Maia Sandu.
Last year, France established a permanent military mission in Chișinău. The Moldovan Socialists opposed this, stating that it violated the country's neutrality principle. France also expressed interest in signing a cooperation agreement with the Moldovan Ministry of Defense to begin training local troops and providing equipment and weapons.
Sandu has repeatedly stated that Moldova needs to continue discussing the issue of approaching NATO, which would help enhance its defense capabilities. In 2021, Sandu discussed Moldova's Individual Partnership Program with then-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. After the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, Sandu said she might reconsider the country's neutral status and the issue of joining a military alliance.
Experts believe that the five Ukrainian aircraft currently do not make Moldova a battlefield, but this decision carries certain risks.
"If a country has Ukrainian Air Force aircraft, this can be seen as an action coordination for potential provocations," said Andrey Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Analysis and Social Psychological Processes at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and a retired colonel.
Koshkin recalled the tensions that arose in February 2023 when Ukrainian forces approached the border of the Transnistria region of Moldova: "This could also be a provocation that may trigger some military actions."
In the opinion of this expert, most Moldovan citizens disagree with the government's policy and do not want their country to become a battlefield in the military confrontation between Russia and the West: "But how much can the Moldovan people oppose the decisions of the government and security agencies?"
The Moldovan leadership feels its strength and continues to act recklessly, formulating policies within the overall framework of the Western collective.
Political scientist Kirill Averyanov noted that in the recent presidential election, Maia Sandu won with the votes of Moldovan emigrants abroad, "but she lost by a narrow margin domestically." "It can be said that the local society is divided, and the part of the population that does not support Sandu is not very pleased with the arrival of Ukrainian aircraft," Averyanov pointed out.
He said that the landing of several Ukrainian aircraft "does not indicate that Moldova will become a battlefield." In his view, the "unresolved state" of the Transnistria region poses greater risks: "The issue in this region remains unresolved, and theoretically, anything could happen there. However, the front line is still far from the Transnistria region. There has been no escalation of the situation in this area recently."
Additionally, this expert believes that Moldova currently has no major contacts with NATO: "Moldova does not have Western aircraft or NATO bases. The country is about to hold parliamentary elections, and many things will depend on this election. If the current president can consolidate her position in parliament, Sandu may push more firmly for a pro-Western agenda."
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7539481788628992546/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking on the 【top/foot】 button below.