site.btaDefence Minister: We Need to Build Strong Public Communication to Fight Disinformation

Opening the new academic year at the Rakovski National Defence College, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said: "We need to build strong public communication to fight disinformation, because we are a democratic country."

The Minister delivered his first academic lecture for the new school year on Bulgaria’s defence policy in the context of the new strategic reality.

“Without public consensus and public support, defence budget and spending cannot be increased. We must be well aware that information is becoming the strongest weapon today. A loss on the information field can ensure the victory of the opponent without a single choice,” Zapryanov said.

A key priority is building national resilience against hybrid impact. Our task is to help people realize in time the objective reality that defence will occupy an increasingly important place and will make an increasingly significant contribution to ensuring the security of the nation, said the Minister.

Understaffing in the army exceeds 21%, the situation in the Land Forces is especially difficult. We are doing everything possible to cope with the shortage of military personnel, Zapryanov said. From January 1, 2025, military personnel will receive salaries calculated on a new basis. The basic monthly remuneration for the lowest position will be determined annually on the basis of the average salary for the country for the second quarter of the previous year, according to data from the National Statistical Institute.

The Defence Ministry does not envisage the return of conscription military service from the recent past, Zapryanov said. The growth in defence spending must continue sustainably over time. We need to realize that 2% of GDP for defence is already insufficient. We are already thinking about the goal for defense spending to be at a sustainable minimum over time, but at least 2.5%. Our ambition is to strive for this level with next year's budget, said the Minister.

The brutal and unprovoked military aggression of Russia against Ukraine, accompanied by the systematic war crimes of the Russian armed forces attacking civilian objects, constitutes a gross violation of the UN Charter and international law. This aggression destroyed the European security architecture built after World War II. In addition to Russia, which is the most significant and direct threat to NATO's security, it is necessary to watch China's policy with caution, Zapryanov said in his lecture.

Uncontrolled migration causes serious economic and social problems. The risk of persons associated with international terrorism remains, he said. We are witnessing an upward trend of populism and extreme nationalism, which attack and erode our values and the unity of society and democratic countries, the Minister said.