Adm. Eftimov Finds Defence Spending at 2.5% of GDP Not Enough

UPDATED Adm. Eftimov Finds Defence Spending at 2.5% of GDP Not Enough

Valentin Evstatiev, Nikolay Trifonov

The annnual conference of the Chief of Defence is held in Sofia, February 24, 2026 (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev). Pictured: the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov.

Sofia,

24.02.2026 12:25 | UPDATED 24.02.2026 15:29

(BTA)

Defence spending amounting to 2.5% of GDP is insufficient to build Armed Forces capable of meeting the demands of the contemporary security environment, Bulgaria’s Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, told journalists on Tuesday.

He was speaking to the media after presenting the Analysis of the Status and Readiness of the Armed Forces in 2025 on the first day of the annual conference of the Chief of Defence.

This year’s conference reviews the development of the Bulgarian Armed Forces from the perspective of tasks in a national and Allied format.

"We have conducted an analysis of the processes within the Armed Forces that affect the condition and readiness of the army," the Chief of Defence said. "The modernization process is taking on increasingly visible dimensions. The first eight F-16 aircraft have arrived, and infrastructure was prepared at an accelerated pace in order to certify their arrival. Our F-16 pilots are now flying at a very good rate. We have raised the flag of the multipurpose modular patrol ship Hrabri, and its crew is on board. The first Stryker vehicles have begun to arrive as well," he said.

"By 2027, there will be no other mechanized brigade like this in Europe - so fully equipped, with combat vehicles, combat reconnaissance vehicles, nuclear, chemical and biological protection vehicles, medical evacuation vehicles, and logistics vehicles. There is no such fully equipped brigade in Europe. We made a very good decision - a combination of firepower, protection, and mobility," said Admiral Eftimov.

He noted that today marks four years since the start of the war in Ukraine. "When the war began, I made only one statement, saying that Bulgaria must not find itself in such a situation. That is why we are doing everything possible in a coalition and allied format - to make sure Bulgaria is on the security map and that we can rely on commitments both from NATO and from our allies, so that we do not fall into such a situation," he said.

The Chief of Defence also pointed out that all countries around the world seek to ensure security mechanisms and that no country can defend itself on its own.

Guests at the conference include Deputy Commander of NATO Air Command Lieutenant General Guillaume Thomas, Commander of NATO's Joint Warfare Centre Major General Ruprecht von Butler, and Deputy Commander of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) Ulf Hаussler.

/RY/