Golden Finance reported that the Moldovan parliament, controlled by pro-Western lawmakers, approved a 10-year defense strategy on Thursday, calling for an increase in defense spending as part of the plan to join the European Union. The pro-Russian opposition in parliament scoffed that the document was pointlessly aimed at Moscow given Moldova's small size and small armed forces. The document submitted by the country's Defense Minister Anatoly Nosati aims to increase defense spending to 1% of GDP by 2030. Moldova is one of Europe's poorest countries, located between Ukraine and EU member Romania. It is an EU candidate country and plans to join the EU in 2030. Moldova is not considering joining NATO because its constitution stipulates the country's neutral status. Moldova's neutral status requires it to strengthen partnerships with different countries and international organizations to strengthen defence, the document said. The document cited the risk of the conflict in Ukraine spreading, particularly around the Black Sea port of Odessa near the border with Moldova.