This thesis assesses the political and military challenges facing the Republic of Moldova, as an armed neutral in the regional security architecture of the Black Sea Basin. The eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) has turned the Black Sea region into an area of overlapping partnerships, programs, and projects geared toward stabilization, development, and preparation for integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Past experience shows that national security is closely connected to regional security, which requires close attention to political, economic, social, cultural, diplomatic, ethnic, and energy factors. The new geopolitical configuration in the Black Sea region presents both challenges and opportunities for Moldova to promote regional and national security through bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries and broader international engagement and relations with the European Union and NATO. In view of this complex situation, the pursuit of a policy of armed neutrality may be the best approach for promoting the national interest and security of Moldova. Such political positioning would provide the country with opportunities for working efficiently with both neighboring nations and the West, as well as maintaining good relations with the dominant political, military, and economic force in the region—the Russian Federation.

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