site.btaUPDATED Defence Minister Discusses Military Capabilities, Defence Spending, Armed Forces Undermanning

"In order to guarantee our security, we must be in a position to fulfil the national and Allied deterrence and defence plans. There are key challenges to fulfilling the plans in two areas: recruiting and retaining a sufficient number of motivated and qualified service persons, and ensuring adequate defence spending in the medium and long term. Without capabilities of our own, we cannot possibly contribute to collective defence," Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said here on Tuesday, the first day of a two-day Annual Conference of the Chief of Defence.

"Our solidarity and support for Ukraine are strategically important for our national security. We will stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and will continue our support," Zapryanov stated.

He said he was "extremely satisfied" with an analysis presented at the conference by the Chief of Defence "because it is very honest and accurately reflects the condition of the Armed Forces without concealing anything. We will prepare and submit to Parliament a progress report on the implementation of the investment programme," Zapryanov added.

Capabilities

The governance programme includes a strategic review of military capabilities, he said. "NATO's new capability targets are much broader and require us to adjust our capability development plans," said Zapryanov.

"We envisage building and developing space reconnaissance and observation capabilities," the Minister said further, adding that counter-disinformation capabilities are being built as well.

Defence Spending

Talking to reporters, the Minister said that defence spending in 2025 would stand at 2.09% of GDP.

"If we take into account compensation money, the budget will top 2.09%. The good news is that the [cabinet's] governance programme envisages 2.5% of GDP for the next years," Zapryanov said.

"At 2% of GDP, the defence spending level is already quite insufficient. We are aspiring to ensure a level of at least 2.5% even in 2026 and to keep this level as a base in the long term and, if possible, to increase it," the Defence Minister said later, addressing the Conference. 

Undermanning

"The requirement for force preparedness has increased substantially and decisively, which raises questions about personnel recruitment. I have accepted the Chief of Defence's proposal and priority units will be identified to be filled first," Zapryanov said, talking to journalists.

"The margins below establishment in our Armed Forces are deeply worrying and already threaten their readiness," he told the Annual Conference.

"People remain the most important capability component," the Defence Minister pointed out. "That is why we will continue to work to ensure adequate and fair pay, improve working conditions, and provide an expanded perquisites package," he explained. 

"We will create conditions for the phased replenishment of the mobilization reserve by introducing military training for certain categories of Bulgarian citizens as a condition for entering employment in certain state administration structures. For the time being we are only holding talks because there is no consent on a legislative revision," Zapryanov said.

Earlier in the day, he told reporters that one of the Defence Ministry's ideas - compulsory military training for citizens - is missing from the governance programme because one of the parties in the coalition disapproves. The idea was to require military training for employees in certain departments where carrying a firearm is part of the job, he explained.

"In addition to opposition from one of the political parties, we also face resistance from certain departments," Zapryanov commented, specifying that the Ministry of Interior is one such department. "They are concerned that such a requirement would limit citizens' opportunities to join the Interior Ministry," he explained.