site.btaBulgaria, UK to Sign Bilateral Defence Cooperation Plan for 2025

Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov held a meeting with British Ambassador to Bulgaria Nathaniel Copsey here on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said. Bulgaria and the UK are due to sign a Bilateral Defence Cooperation Plan for 2025, the press release added.

Zapryanov highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and expressed his confidence that efforts to achieve goals of mutual interest will continue to develop and the fruitful partnership in the military sphere will continue to deepen. Increasing the defence budget of both countries and the need to enhance interoperability were discussed, as well as the NATO concept of deterrence and defence.

The Minister underlined Bulgaria's commitment to ensuring security in the Black Sea region and in the Western Balkans and to continuing support for Ukraine as long as necessary, in line with the decisions of the National Assembly. The processes of modernization and rearmament of the Bulgarian army are ongoing and the objective remains to enhance defence capabilities, he said.

Nathaniel Copsey pointed out that among the main priorities of the new British government is the deepening of the relationship with the European Union, the implementation of the assumed responsibilities towards the partner countries and the increase of investments in the country's defence. 

The meeting also addressed the increased need to increase cyber defence capacity and to improve methods and mechanisms to effectively counter hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. Opportunities to build on the traditionally good level of joint training in strategic communications were also discussed.

Deputy Minister of Defence Radostin Iliev, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov and Defense Attaché of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Walker, participated in the meeting.