site.btaBulgarian Defence Minister Meets Turkish Parliamentary Delegation to Discuss Regional Security Cooperation

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov met with a delegation from the National Defence Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, led by its Chair Hulusi Akar, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

The meeting focused on key issues related to deepening and strengthening cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkiye in the fields of security and defence. Zapryanov emphasized the traditionally strong partnership between the two neighbouring countries, highlighting their relations in defence, trade, investment, and tourism.

The Minister noted that as NATO member states, both countries are closely monitoring developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East. He stressed that joint activities in mine countermeasures in the Black Sea will remain a top priority for addressing threats to collective security in the region.

According to Zapryanov, the positive cooperation between the three NATO Black Sea countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye, demonstrates that common interests can be effectively protected only through joint efforts. He pointed to the establishment of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea (MCM Black Sea) Task Group as a concrete example of this cooperation. The Minister also acknowledged Turkiye’s significant contribution to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria. 

The two sides agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in the area of defence to enhance regional security. They also discussed the importance of modern and adequate solutions in the defence industry and the need to accelerate the modernization processes of the Armed Forces. The participants highlighted the key role of stability in the Western Balkans and expressed a shared understanding of the need for stronger joint efforts and cooperation among the Black Sea countries.

Akar noted that traditionally good neighbourly relations between Turkiye and Bulgaria have been developing positively over the years, both in terms of military cooperation and in other areas. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding effective bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria. Akar highlighted the good coordination with Bulgaria in carrying out mine countermeasures in the Black Sea and noted that the Turkish government is making every effort to help bring about a swift end to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Attending the meeting were also Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, Director of Defence Policy and Planning at the Defence Ministry Lyubomir Monov, Deputy Chair of the Turkish parliamentary Defence Committee Refik Ozen, and the Ambassador of Turkiye to Bulgaria, Mehmet Sait Uyanik.