site.btaBulgarian Defence Minister Takes Part in Tirana Connectivity Forum

During a two-day working visit to Albania, Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov took part in the panel “South East Europe 6 as a Security Provider” at the Tirana Connectivity Forum 2025, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The discussion also involved Albanian Defence Minister Piro Vengu and politicians and experts from the region.

In his speech, Zapryanov noted that in addition to being neighbours, Bulgaria and Albania are close allies in NATO sharing responsibility for regional security and stability. He singled out Pan-European Corridor VIII as key infrastructure for NATO’s military mobility, logistical connectivity between the Black and Adriatic Seas, and economic development.

Zapryanov also underlined Bulgaria’s contribution to regional security through participation in NATO and EU missions (KFOR, EUFOR-Althea), expressing gratitude for Albania’s role in the NATO battlegroup in Bulgaria and the KFOR mission in Kosovo. He stressed that joint military training demonstrates high levels of trust and interoperability between the two countries.

The Minister noted that military mobility, connectivity, and the defence industry are priorities in the new NATO and EU strategic framework and affirmed Bulgaria’s active work on building defence capabilities.

Zapryanov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s unconditional support for Albania’s European integration, emphasizing the importance of the Western Balkans’ integration for peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe.

During a bilateral meeting on Monday, Atanas Zapryanov and Piro Vengu discussed NATO-related topics including the strategic significance of Pan-European Corridor VIII, cooperation within NATO, security on the alliance’s eastern and southeastern flanks, and potential joint initiatives in the defence industry.

Zapryanov is the first foreign government official to visit Albania after the formation of its new government, in which Vengu begins his second term as Defence Minister. This shows the strategic importance of Bulgaria-Albania relations and their role in regional stability, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said.