site.btaDelegation of National Defence Committee of Turkish Grand National Assembly Visits Bulgaria

A delegation of the National Defence Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly visited Bulgaria on Tuesday at the invitation of the parliamentary Defence Committee. The delegation, led by Committee Chair Hulusi Akar, held meetings with Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

The Foreign Minister and the Turkish delegation discussed a broad range of bilateral cooperation issues, as well as key topics on the international agenda. These included the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and shared regional security challenges, the Ministry reported. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of Bulgaria and Turkiye as neighboring NATO allies in ensuring stability and security in the Black Sea region.

The meeting between Defence Minister Zapryanov and the Turkish delegation focused on key issues related to deepening and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and defence. Zapryanov emphasized the traditionally strong partnership between the two neighbouring countries, highlighting their relations in defence, trade, investment, and tourism, the Defence Ministry reported.

Zapryanov noted that as NATO member countries, both states are closely monitoring developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East. He stressed that joint activities in mine countermeasures in the Black Sea will remain a top priority for addressing threats to collective security in the region.

According to Zapryanov, the positive cooperation between the three NATO Black Sea countries - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye - demonstrates that common interests can be effectively protected only through joint efforts. He pointed to the establishment of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea (MCM Black Sea) Task Group as a concrete example of this cooperation. The Minister also acknowledged Turkiye’s significant contribution to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria. 

The two sides agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in the area of defence to enhance regional security. They also discussed the importance of modern and adequate solutions in the defence industry and the need to accelerate the modernization processes of the Armed Forces. The participants highlighted the key role of stability in the Western Balkans and expressed a shared understanding of the need for stronger joint efforts and cooperation among the Black Sea countries.

Akar noted that traditionally good neighbourly relations between Turkiye and Bulgaria have been developing positively over the years, both in terms of military cooperation and in other areas. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding effective bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria. Akar highlighted the good coordination with Bulgaria in carrying out mine countermeasures in the Black Sea and noted that the Turkish government is making every effort to help bring about a swift end to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Attending the meeting were also Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, Director of Defence Policy and Planning at the Defence Ministry Lyubomir Monov, Deputy Chair of the Turkish parliamentary Defence Committee Refik Ozen, and the Ambassador of Turkiye to Bulgaria, Mehmet Sait Uyanik.