site.btaGovernment Dismisses as Disinformation Allegations about NATO Plans for Large-Scale Conflict in Black Sea with Varna as Naval Base

In a post on its website titled "Facts against Disinformation", the Bulgarian Government says it is fake news that NATO is preparing a large-scale conflict in the Black Sea and that there were discussions in Davos to use Varna as a naval base in such a conflict. "All NATO capabilities are aimed at deterrence and defence and the decisions are subject to democratic and political control. Even the idea of discussion on aggression against other countries is practically impossible as it goes against the NATO founding document, the Washington Treaty," the Government says.

It goes on to explain that Bulgaria is planning the establishment of a coordinating element for situational awareness which has nothing to do with "a naval base" and precludes the deployment of naval assets. "Bulgaria has a right to know the full picture of the situation at sea, exactly because of Russia's aggressive actions, including by blocking a significant part of Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea," says the Government.

"It is for a reason that the Russian propaganda directs the attention to Varna: it is the city that Moscow bombed during the First World War and left many victims among the civilian population and much destruction of residential buildings."

The Government further specifies that NATO does not discuss its actions in public formats and the allegations that such issues were on the agenda in Davos is "clear disinformation".