site.btaDefence Ministry Reports Timely Completion of Strategic Defence Review and Other Accomplishments under Caretaker Cabinet

The Defence Ministry Wednesday reported timely completion of the strategic defence review and other accomplishments under the caretaker cabinet. The report, published on the ministry's website, identifies five priorities, including the successful completion of the Strategic Defence Review on time, further efforts to reduce the undermanning of the Armed Forces and continue the modernization, as well as continuing the support for Ukraine.

Addressing undermanning, continuing modernization and support for Ukraine 

Amendments were adopted to the Defence and Armed Forces Act to couple servicemen's salaries to the average salary in the country, the report noted. 

The pace of rearmament and modernization was kept up. Parliament resolved to adopt a programme for investment in defence until 2032. Work focused on the acquisition of two multi-purpose modular patrol vessels with armament and equipment; coastal anti-ship missile complexes; medium/long-range anti-aircraft missile complexes; special operations forces mobility and personnel protection vehicles; F-16 Block 70 aircraft; Stryker combat vehicles; and mine hunters for the Navy. The modernization of 44 T-72 tanks and three MT-LB U command and control vehicles has been completed. The overall modernization of the Third Air Base continued at an accelerated pace. Reconstruction of the main runway was successfully completed and MiG-29 aircraft were redeployed, resuming Air Policing and aircrew training tasks, the Ministry reported.

Effective ally in NATO and EU, building capabilities to counter disinformation

Establishing Bulgaria as a strong and effective member of NATO has been a focus of the defence policy, the Ministry said. Bulgaria took part in a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels in June. Strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence capabilities and support for Ukraine in the context of the preparations for the NATO summit in Washington were the main topics. The allies discussed the implementation of the renewed defence investment commitment, under which the investment of 2% of GDP is now a minimum base rather than a ceiling, the ministry recalled. "We are already thinking about setting a target for defence spending to be at a minimum level of 2.5% that would be sustainable over time. Our ambition is to aim for this level already with the budget for next year," interim defence minister Atanas Zapryanov said a day earlier.

The Defence Ministry report noted that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Defence Ministries of Bulgaria and Romania on the establishment of the Regional Component Command Headquarters for Special Operations, as well as the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea, in which Bulgaria participates together with Romania and Turkiye.

The Ministry continued to build institutional resilience against external interference and information manipulation, the document further notes.

 Continued support for Ukraine in implementation of parliamentary decisions

In the spirit of consistency and responsibility to protect national interests, the provision of military assistance to Ukraine has kept defence policy in focus. In early June 2024, the Ministry provided Ukraine with additional military and technical assistance. Preparations continued for a substantial new package of military assistance addressing the real needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, the document states.

Bulgaria has sent eight packages of arms, equipment and ammunition to Ukraine, all strictly in accordance with the decisions of the National Assembly, Atanas Zapryanov said Tuesday.

Timely completion of Strategic Defence Review

The fundamental changes in the security environment after the start of Russia's war against Ukraine and the changes in the conceptual and planning documents of NATO and the EU necessitated a Strategic Defence Review. The review was conducted in accordance with decisions of the Council of Ministers. The summarized results are reflected in a draft Defence White Paper 2024. The draft White Paper was sent to the Council of Ministers on time, the Ministry said.

The White Paper is a policy document to be endorsed by a politically appointed government. There is no way a caretaker minister and cabinet could adopt such a document, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in early August.

Organization and glitch-free conduct of elections among military and civilian employees

Servicemembers in missions and operations abroad were provided with the opportunity to vote in Bulgarian elections. The exceptions are the NATO mission in Iraq and the NATO permanent mine action naval group, where it was not possible to open polling stations, the report states. Servicemen participating in exercises inside and outside the country, as well as those on 24-hour duty, were given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Servicemen performing tasks in support of the Ministry of the Interior in guarding the State border were rotated on election day so that they could vote.