site.btaBulgarian Chief of Defence Meets with Italian Army's Chief of Staff in Sofia

Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov, met in Sofia with the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, the Ministry of Defense reported on Tuesday. “Italy is our reliable ally and trusted partner both within NATO and the European Union. I express my gratitude for Italy’s consistent support, and especially for assuming the role of lead nation of the Alliance’s multinational battlegroup in Bulgaria,” Eftimov stated.

The Chief of Defense noted that the official visit of Lieutenant General Masiello contributes to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries, strengthening the trust between their armed forces, and reaffirming the important role of both Bulgaria and Italy in ensuring the security and stability of the Alliance in the Black Sea region and the Western Balkans. Admiral Eftimov emphasized the high professionalism and dedication of the Italian service members in establishing and deploying the Alliance’s battlegroup in Bulgaria, as well as the progress made in building the necessary infrastructure for the multinational military formation.

The meeting also outlined specific prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the land domain. Discussions covered the challenges in implementing regional deterrence and defense plans, the role of the multinational battlegroup within them, as well as opportunities to provide personnel for key positions in multinational formations.

Bulgaria’s proposal to establish a multinational division headquarters was also discussed, along with the possibility of Italy joining the effort in its formation. The two sides also addressed topics such as joint participation in NATO missions and operations, including the effective cooperation within the KFOR operation in Kosovo, as well as opportunities for joint training of Land Forces units.