site.btaDefence Chief Eftimov Highlights Bulgaria's Contribution as Host of NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2025 Exercise

Defence Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov highlighted the contribution of Bulgaria and Bulgaria’s armed forces as host of the Alliance's largest exercise for 2025 - Steadfast Dart - 2025, related to the actual deployment of NATO Allied Reaction Force (ARF) formations. He met here on Wednesday with Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning of the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, Major General John Clark, and Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy, Major General Eldon Millar, the Defence Ministry said.

Admiral Eftimov highlighted the main priorities for the Bulgarian army, which stem from the preparation of troops and forces, namely effective participation in allied training, continuous development of the necessary defence capabilities and maintaining high levels of readiness, the ministry said.

"Our NATO allies are working seriously in the interests of our security. The benefits for Bulgaria are at the strategic, operational and tactical level, as well as at the state level, as we work out our host nation support concept. We are creating the conditions for these forces to arrive, deploy on our territory, reach operational readiness, demonstrate their capabilities and make a clear mark," the Defence Chief said.

He stressed that the exercise is designed to demonstrate NATO's ability to reinforce the Southeastern flank with the deployment of the Allied Response Force.

"We have plans and forces that can respond if necessary, in addition to the forces already deployed on the Southeastern flank - the Multinational Battlegroup in Romania with the framework country France and the Multinational Battlegroup on our territory with the framework country Italy. This is the next step by which the Allies demonstrate their commitment to collective defence and, in particular, to the Southeastern flank. This is a significant step and we must give credit to the Alliance structures that are involved," Admiral Eftimov added.

In his talks with his NATO counterparts, he highlighted the benefits of the participation of Bulgarian servicemen in this type of exercises for the enhancement of training, interoperability and the building of capabilities to deal effectively with security challenges and threats.

The Steadfast Dart 2025 exercise is one of the innovations in collective training, responding to the needs arising from the new Alliance force model, the statement said.

It is intended to be conducted annually to actually train the Allied Response Force for deployment and action in different areas of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander's area of responsibility for operations. 

On February 13, Major General John Clark and Major General Eldon Millar will attend a Distinguished Visitors Day at the Tsrancha training centre.