site.btaCyber Defence and Command Centre Opens in Sofia

A cyber defence and command centre opened in Sofia, the press office of the US embassy in Bulgaria said on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Todor Tagarev and Deputy Chief of the US mission in Sofia Andrea Brouillette-Rodriguez.

The project, valued at USD 12 million, is funded through the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and executed through the U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a cyber defense training and operations center, providing advanced training for domestic military personnel, improving the skills and knowledge needed to deter, detect and defend against cyber attacks.

The inauguration of the cyber command and defense centre represents an important milestone in the United States' ongoing partnership with Bulgaria. This centre and associated support program will provide students with the practical and technical knowledge needed to conduct effective cybersecurity operations, integrating new techniques and technologies with current Defence Ministry cybersecurity procedures. The United States is proud to support Bulgaria in its efforts to improve cyber defence capabilities and looks forward to continued cooperation in this critical area, the U.S. Embassy Press Office said.