site.btaBalkan Countries Chiefs of Defence to Discuss Use of Unmanned Autonomous Systems in Modern Military Conflicts

The use of unmanned autonomous systems in modern and future military conflicts will be discussed by Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov with his counterparts from the Balkan countries, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. Eftimov will participate in the 18th Balkan Countries CHODs Conference, which is taking place in Istanbul on May 27-29.

The forum provides an opportunity for the Chiefs of Defence of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkiye and Montenegro to discuss common topics for their armed forces, as well as opportunities for enhancing military cooperation.

The initiative of the Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan countries was founded 18 years ago and has become one of the most significant examples of regional military cooperation, the Defence Ministry added. Areas of joint work include exchanging information on security issues and potential threats to the region, organizing joint exercises, courses and training.

"People in defence are our most valuable asset and a key component of shaping any military capability. Attracting and retaining defence people through skills development and training is a critical requirement for achieving any strategic security and defence objective," Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov said in his address at the 17th Annual Conference of Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan Countries in Durres, Albania, in 2024.

Admiral Eftimov stressed the need for a consistent policy to raise the prestige of the military profession. He stressed the need to implement concrete measures aimed at motivating people in defence. The Chief of Defence also pointed to the importance of access to the use of new technologies in military training programmes that meet the modern requirements for combat operations.