site.btaPresident Rumen Radev Meets with NATO Deputy Secretary General

President Rumen Radev emphasized during a meeting Monday with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska, the President's press office said. He stressed that connectivity between countries in Southeast Europe is important not only for their economic development but also for NATO's collective security in the region.

Radev also said that in the context of a deteriorating security environment, the modernization of the Bulgarian army contributes to strengthening NATO's collective defence throughout the region. The President stressed the importance of the modernization projects of the Bulgarian Land Forces, Air Force, and Navy and highlighted this country's ambitions for the full participation of the Bulgarian defence industry and science in this process. The Head of State also noted the importance of implementing a number of smaller projects from a financial point of view, which are of great benefit to the development of modern defence capabilities.

The increase in the share of GDP allocated to defence and the increase in security investments by NATO member states were also discussed during the meeting. The Head of State once again called for closer cooperation between individual member states in the process of developing and deploying new weapons, so as not to deepen the divide within NATO between countries that produce and countries that consume defense products.

“The connectivity between the countries in Southeast Europe is important not only for economic development, but also as a factor in NATO's collective security in the region,” the President emphasized during the meeting, highlighting the key importance of European transport corridor No. 8, the construction of which will connect the Adriatic and Black Seas.

Among the topics discussed during the meeting were the war in Ukraine, the resulting risks to international peace and security, as well as international initiatives to end the hostilities and seek a peaceful solution through diplomacy, the President's press office said.

Radmila Sekerinska is visiting Bulgaria on Monday, where she met with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, visited the Bulgaria 2025 emergency management exercise at Erden Airport, and gave a lecture at the Central Military Club.