site.btaDefence Minister Zapryanov Confers with Outgoing British Ambassador Dixon

Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov on Monday  conferred with His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador in Sofia, Dr Rob Dixon, who is leaving Bulgaria after completing his four-year tour here, Zapryanov's Ministry said in a press release.

Zapryanov highly appreciated the UK's commitment to ensuring security in the Black Sea region and the support for enhancing the Bulgarian Armed Forces' interoperability and capabilities. He thanked the Ambassador for his personal contribution to deepening bilateral defence cooperation and described current military partnership as "exceedingly good and vigorous". For his part, Dixon assured the Bulgarian side that he will remain committed to the relationship between the two countries even after assuming his new post.

Support for Ukraine and its furtherance, NATO's deterrence and defence concept, Armed Forces modernization and the possibilities for increasing the traditionally good level of joint military exercises topped the agenda during the talks. An emphasis was laid on the significance of the share of British service members in building the NATO Battlegroup in Bulgarian territory and the joint trainings of Bulgarian and UK special operations forces. 

The sides also discussed the countering of hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. Zapryanov thanked the Ambassador for the help provided by the British Government in the form of expert training in Strategic Communications.

Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, and the UK Defence Attache, Lieutenant Colonel Mattew Walker, took part in the meeting.