site.btaPresident: Black Sea Has Become Highly Important Security Area, Should Be Region of Peace

The Black Sea is establishing itself as one of the most important security areas and should be a sea of people and peace, President Iliana Iotova said in Varna on Sunday. She recalled that a war has been raging in Europe for a fourth year and the conflict in the Middle East is also continuing. "For years, our Black Sea stood somewhere on the periphery of attention, both among our European partners and within the alliances to which we belong. Today, the focus and attention are concentrated here, and Bulgaria's role in this operational area is becoming increasingly significant," the president said.

She was speaking to cadets from the April 2026 graduating class of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. The cadets received their first officer epaulettes at an official ceremony at the end of week-long celebrations of the 147th anniversary of the Bulgarian Navy.

Among the guests were Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov, Deputy Defence Minister Katerina Gramatikova-Ivanova, Chief of Defence Adm. Emil Eftimov, Varna Regional Governor Mario Smarkov, Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav. The ceremony was also attended by Navy Commander RAdm. Kiril Mihaylov, Naval Academy Rector Fl. Adm. Prof. Kalin Kalinov, members of parliament, senior officers and numerous parents.

The president told the young officers that they are joining the Navy at a time of serious challenges to national security. Against this backdrop, she added, the young officers must put all the knowledge they have acquired into practice, demonstrate outstanding professional qualities and defend the country's maritime sovereignty and independence.

"We are witnessing a rapid technological revolution in military affairs. Innovative methods of conducting military operations are being introduced, and a relentless race for superiority is taking place across all operational environments," the president said. She underlined that, to meet these challenges, the young officers must continue learning throughout their careers and strive to become the best naval officers. "We will rely on you greatly from now on to safeguard our country and its security," Iotova said.

She extended special congratulations to the command and teaching staff of the Naval Academy for their "care, patience and dedication in educating the young people and instilling in them pride in having graduated from one of Bulgaria's most prestigious higher education institutions". "Their maritime education is a worthy rival to the best education in the world," the president said.

According to Iotova, the academy's lecturers had given the young people something exceptionally important - the confidence of Bulgarian officers and defenders of their homeland.

The president also congratulated the parents and relatives of the graduating cadets for raising them with a strong sense of patriotism.

Deputy Defence Minister Gramatikova said: "Nowadays, battles are fought not only on the battlefield, but also in cyberspace, the information environment and against every piece of critical infrastructure." She said that this is precisely why Bulgaria will need the young officers – to ensure that the country has strong armed forces and resilient state institutions.

"The importance of freedom of navigation and the protection of strategic maritime communications is becoming increasingly clear. You will be the commanders who will lead the introduction of new equipment and weapons, the building and development of Bulgaria's defence capabilities, and the fulfilment of our allied commitments," Gramatikova said.

She stressed that the young officers' strongest weapons would be their knowledge and character and the trust they managed to build with the people they will work with.

Chief of Defence Adm. Emil Eftimov welcomed the young officers to the ranks of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. He said they are joining at a dynamic time, a time of wars, geopolitical rivalry and transformation.

"Every beginning is difficult, but I am convinced that you will succeed. Build your confidence; you have the knowledge and skills, and these are all the prerequisites for a successful career," Eftimov said.