site.btaNATO, EU Must Strengthen Ties Amid Growing Regional Challenges, Says Bulgarian FM

Addressing the fourth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which is being held from April 11 to 13, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said that investment in the security of the Black Sea region is an investment in the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Saturday. "In this complex environment, what is most urgently needed is closer coordination and cooperation between NATO and the EU – the region’s natural partners," he added.

Georgiev spoke during a panel focused on security in the Black Sea region, joined by Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Zeki Levent Gumrukcu. He emphasized that amid escalating geopolitical rivalries and growing pressure on the international order, only a firm commitment to the principles of multilateralism and the UN Charter can provide a sustainable framework for peace and security. Georgiev highlighted the Black Sea region’s strategic importance for Europe, describing it as a vital crossroads for security, economic activity, infrastructure, and energy connectivity across the continent. He warned that deteriorating security in the region has a direct and multi-layered negative impact not only on regional but also on global stability.

The minister recalled Bulgaria’s active role in joint efforts with Romania and other EU nations to develop a new, comprehensive, and strategic vision for the Black Sea region. "We need an integrated, multi-dimensional EU strategy for the Black Sea region that reflects the current realities while also offering a vision for the future. This will strengthen the EU’s resilience of the EU and our partners, unlock potential for cooperation, and improve connectivity in all its aspects," Georgiev said.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister also stressed the need for a stronger NATO presence in the Black Sea, including through the operational implementation of the Alliance’s Strategic Concept and enhanced deterrence along the Eastern Flank.

Georgiev voiced hope for a swift ceasefire in the Black Sea region as a first step toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and international law. He underlined that Bulgaria stands ready to contribute to the peace process in coordination with its allies and partners.

In Antalya, Georgiev is part of a Bulgarian government delegation led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. During the diplomatic forum, Zhelyazkov held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting that the longstanding, friendly, and partnership-based relations between Bulgaria and Turkiye serve as a model for safeguarding both national and European external borders in a manner exemplary within the European context.

The fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) is held under the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Across three formats – ADFPanel, ADFRound, and ADFTalk – the three-day forum features around 50 sessions covering a wide array of topics across various regions, from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific and from Africa to Latin America. Discussions also include pressing global issues such as climate change, terrorism, humanitarian aid, digitalization, food security, and artificial intelligence.