site.btaPresident Expects Service Persons to Have Parliament's, Government's Support to Continue Armed Forces' Modernization

Addressing service persons here on Thursday, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Rumen Radev said he expects that in this challenging security environment, they will also have the support of the National Assembly and the Government so that the active processes of modernisation of the Armed Forces and motivation of the personnel are not put on hold. Radev was speaking at a ceremony awarding service persons with senior officer rank.

"Your appointments come at a time of an unprecedented deterioration of the global security environment, of an ever wider application of the law of force in international relations, of an expanding spectrum of risks and threats to national and collective security," the head of State further told the service persons. "In the conflicts unfolding around us, we are witnessing the intensification of new technologies and means of warfare, the emergence of new types of troops," he went on to say. In his words, this complex security environment imposes new and ever higher demands on the defence capabilities of Bulgaria's Armed Forces, rethinking strategies and doctrines, accelerating the modernisation processes, improving command and control systems, increasing the effectiveness of the system of planning and training of formations, enhancing interoperability and interaction with allies, and an active role of the Bulgarian Armed Forces in building the new European security architecture.

Major General Krassimir Kanev said on behalf of the service persons that every promotion is an exceptional moment in their life and professional path. "Service persons take an oath once. For the sake of our country we will give, if necessary, even our lives," he said. 

The Commander-in-Chief decreed the appointment of Stanimir Hristov to the post of Commander of the Joint Forces Command, effective January 5, and awarded him the senior officer rank of Major General. By another decree, the head of State appointed Colonel Hristo Hristov as Chief of Staff of the Joint Forces Command as of January 6, 2025 and awarded him the rank of Brigadier General. The head of State appointed Major General Yavor Mateev as the military representative of the Chief of Defence to the NATO Military Committee and the EU's Military Committee. The President awarded Major General Mateev the senior officer rank of Lieutenant General.

The President appointed Colonel Bozhidar Boykov Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command and awarded him the senior officer rank of Brigadier General. The head of State conferred the senior officer rank of Rear Admiral on Fleet Admiral Georgi Penev. Major General Krassimir Kanev was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence, effective January 5. 

The caretaker Government proposed the service persons' promotion to President Radev on November 13.