site.btaNATO Joint Force Command in Naples Commander: Bulgaria Holds Central Place in Defence Plans of NATO's Southeastern Flank

Bulgaria holds a central place in the defence plans of NATO's Southeastern flank, Admiral Stuart Munsch, Commander of the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, said on Tuesday at the Novo Selo firing range near Sliven. He observed a Noble Blueprint 2023 exercise of NATO's multinational battle group involving troops from Bulgaria, Italy, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, the US and Montenegro.

"We are in close cooperation with the Bulgarian military leaders in developing the regional plans," he noted, adding that this joint work led to the approval of the regional plan at the last summit in Vilnius.

He thanked Bulgaria for hosting the exercise and stressed that the Alliance members are united in the name of collective defence. "Our commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory ensures the security and prosperity of the nations of the Alliance," Munsch said and pointed out that peace and security are preserved thanks to constant vigilance and joint efforts to strengthen cooperation.

He noted that the Noble Blueprint 23 exercise aims to improve the understanding of the critical features of the Bulgarian terrain and ensures that Alliance forces will be prepared for joint defence operations.