President Radev: Europe's Disintegrating Security Architecture May Unleash Destabilization

UPDATED President Radev: Europe's Disintegrating Security Architecture May Unleash Destabilization

Diana Dukovska

From left: Bulgaria's Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, President Rumen Radev and Chief of Defence Adm. Emil Eftimov, Balkan Countries CHODs Annual Conference, May 18, 2023 (BTA Photo)

18.05.2023 10:23 | UPDATED 18.05.2023 13:00

(BTA)

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Europe's security architecture is falling apart, which may unleash destabilization processes, especially in the Balkan region, which neighbours on the war in Ukraine. He addressed the 16th Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence Conference in Sofia on Thursday.

Radev said Russia's aggression against Ukraine had changed the security environment dramatically. This calls for a thorough transformation of the defence model and for collective defence guarantees in a situation of limited resources and time.

The conference topic, "Regional military connectivity and military mobility as a focus of the Balkan partnership in search of innovative ways of integration and cooperation", is in line with the NATO-EU cooperation areas.

No country can cope with security problems on its own; joint efforts are needed, Radev said. He added that a common political will is needed, as well as a single clear vision to guarantee security in the region and a different attitude towards investments in defence because this is not defence spending but investment in security.

According to the President, the war in Ukraine proved that connectivity, military mobility and logistics are key to today's military operations. "Connectivity, all-encompassing, in all areas - energy, transport and digital," he said.

"When we sign supply contracts for military equipment and technology with our partners - much more developed, larger countries - and invest public money, let's demand stronger industrial cooperation, so that new technologies come to us," the President said, adding that modern military operations are successful only when they are based on the latest achievements of science and technology.

/DD/