site.btaSignificant Departure from Bulgaria-Italy Draft Defence Cooperation Agreement Approved

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday adopted a decision approving a significant departure from the draft Bulgarian-Italian intergovernmental agreement on defence cooperation regarding a joint construction and operation of military facilities in the area of a NATO base near the village of Kabile (Southeastern Bulgaria). The draft agreement was approved by the Cabinet on August 13, 2025 as a basis for the conduct of negotiations and signing.

"The building of military facilities in the area of the Kabile Base is a strategic step towards strengthening the defence capability of Bulgaria and NATO. It will provide the necessary infrastructure for the deployment and maintenance of the Multinational Battlegroup and will allow its future expansion," the Government Information Service said.

Bulgaria hosts a NATO Multinational Battlegroup, with Italy as a Framework Nation, which is to be upgraded from its present battalion size to brigade level.