site.btaAmbassador Vlaykov: Bridge between Silistra and Calarasi Would Help European Security Forces Have Faster Response

A bridge over the Danube between Silistra and Calarasi would help European security forces to have a faster and better response on a larger scale in case of crises, Bulgarian Ambassador to Romania Radko Vlaykov said. He took part in a conference on Romania's defence in the fourth year of war, the defence industry and the consolidation of Euro-Atlantic alliances, which was held in Bucharest and livestreamed on the internet.

"We need to continue discussions on the possibilities of building such a bridge to ensure military mobility, military security. This would be a very good example," the diplomat stressed.

He noted that Bulgaria and Romania are increasingly cooperating on security, but added that all countries in the region should have similar readiness.

"We're all the Eastern flank. The Eastern flank and the Black Sea region are becoming more and more important", the ambassador added.

He also discussed Turkiye's role in strengthening the resilience of the region and the Black Sea area and recalled the Black Sea Security Enhancement Plan, which was presented by the European Commission on May 28 and which includes advancing cooperation with Turkiye, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The strategy also foresees the further development of the trilateral Black Sea demining initiative of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye.

"In our view, the Black Sea strategy comes at the right time. This is an aspect on which we, the democratic countries of the region, of the Eastern flank, should concentrate. It is very important that we, the EU countries, have more opportunities to cooperate with other countries that are not necessarily in the EU but are allies within NATO," Radko Vlaykov said.

He added that Russia remains a major threat to Euro-Atlantic security.

“Russia's brutal war of aggression in Ukraine has destroyed the entire European architecture (...) We must not allow the restoration of Russian hegemony in Eastern Europe”, the diplomat added and urged politicians to remain united.

"We must stay together and Putin will never be able to implement his doctrine. The summit in The Hague will show whether we are strong, whether we are efficient, whether we will remain united, because it is expected that the US will reaffirm its commitment to NATO," Ambassador Vlaykov added.