site.btaDefence Minister Confers with Netherlands Ambassador

Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov conferred here on Wednesday with the newly appointed Ambassador of The Netherlands to Bulgaria Arthur den Hartog, Zapryanov's Ministry said in a press release.

The sides descibed as "excellent" their countries' defence cooperation and considered opportunities for deepening its scope.

The changed security environment as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine, the contribution of Bulgaria and The Netherlands to building the Allied deterrence and defence capability of NATO's eastern flank and the assistance that the two countries are providing and will continue to provide to Ukraine, among other topics, topped the agenda of Wednesday's talks. An emphasis was also laid on the Allied commitment to increase defence budgets in the context of the decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in The Hague.

Zapryanov familiarized den Hartog with the Bulgarian armed forces' modernization projects and the opportunities for the implementation of the defence-related projects for which this country will seek financial aid under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. The defence industry prospects were discussed, too, and the Ambassador said that Dutch companies are keenly interested in attending the Hemus 2026 International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition which will take place in Plovdiv, South Central Bulgaria, next June.

During the session, the sides expressed satisfaction with the successful joint air policing mission accomplished by the Bulgarian Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force in 2022.