site.btaPlanned Maneuver Aimed at Showing Russia NATO Ready to Defend Its Territory - Deputy Defence Minister

NATO is demonstrating capabilities, the exercise is aimed at showing Russia that the Alliance is ready to defend its territory, Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Atanas Zapryanov told Bulgarian National Radio, commenting the upcoming Steadfast Defender 2024 NATO maneuver, which is scheduled to take place January 31-May 31, 2024 and will be the largest NATO maneuver since the end of the Cold War. 

Zapryanov explained that this is a defence exercise and it is not aimed at having any impact on Russia's war in Ukraine.

"NATO has its own decision on this issue and we are providing assistance to Ukraine to deal with this war. But the NATO armed forces are sending a signal to Russia that we are ready to defend our territory resolutely. ... NATO countries must take this threat seriously, modernise our armed forces, increase their readiness and show determination. Only in this way can we dissuade an aggressor from such actions," Zapryanov said.

He was adamant that NATO's entire policy is deterrence and defence.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli announced the upcoming NATO maneuver in Brussels a few days ago.

"Bulgarian officers serving in NATO headquarters, the Ministry of Defence, Bulgarian representatives in NATO, we are all participating in this exercise. It is a planned exercise. There is nothing extraordinary that made it necessary," Gen. Zapryanov said.

The Deputy Defence Minister described as disinformation the claims that by unfolding its defence system, Bulgaria will provoke anyone.

“This is nonsense. A defence weapon does not impact foreign territory, but an enemy who attacks our territory,” he said. According to him, the opposition in Parliament must demand from the Government that Bulgaria’s defence capabilities are modernized, ”which is in the national interest, while the rest is disinformation”.