"As for cooperation with NATO or some kind of NATO membership, it is out of the question at the moment because there is not enough public support for it," Popsoi said in an interview with the RTVI broadcaster out Wednesday.
Moldova's neutrality means it cannot join any military alliances, but does not prevent it from cooperating at the political level even in the security sphere, the minister said.
Most of Moldovans have a negative perception of NATO, so the issue should be brought to a broad discussion, Popsoi said.
"We need to have a open public debate about the pros and cons and decide through this democratic process. But it will be a more long-term prospect. At the moment, there are no discussions about joining [NATO] or any closer cooperation other than what we have had so far," the minister said.
Last January, Moldovan President Maia Sandu told Politico that Kishinev should abandon neutrality to join a major military alliance, although she did not specifically mention NATO back then. At the same time, Sandu has mentioned on several occasions that if the population votes in favor of joining NATO, the constitutional article on the country's neutral status could be revised.
Under the current constitution, Moldova has neutral status, and it has been cooperating with NATO under an individual partnership since 1994. An alliance information center operates in Chisinau.