site.btaMilitary-Technical Cooperation Discussed with Germany

Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and German Ambassador to Bulgaria Irene Maria Plank discussed opportunities to expand military-technical cooperation between the two countries. They talked about projects for Bulgaria to acquire IRIS-T air and missile defence systems, prospects for additional financing through the European SAFE instrument, and the implementation of joint initiatives in land and maritime capabilities, the Defence Ministry said in a press release on Thursday. 

The meeting also covered the acquisition of EuroPULS multiple-launch rocket systems, which Bulgaria plans to pursue jointly with Germany and with support from the SAFE mechanism; deliveries of armaments and ammunition for the Bulgarian Navy's new multi-purpose modular patrol vessels; and opportunities for co-operation with German companies in developing the Bulgarian defence industry.

Minister Stoyanov stressed the government's ambition to involve Bulgaria's defence industry actively in all modernization and armament projects in this country financed through European Union and NATO mechanisms. Bulgaria will work to integrate national manufacturers more closely into European supply chains and joint defence-capability development programmes, he said.

"We will make the fullest possible use of the opportunities offered by European and allied capability-development initiatives, such as the European Defence Fund, SAFE, PESCO and DIANA. Our goal is not only to acquire modern armaments, but also to create real opportunities for the Bulgarian defence industry to participate at every stage of these projects," he said.

In the context of security in the Black Sea region, Minister Stoyanov briefed Ambassador Plank on Bulgaria's efforts to strengthen regional resilience and maritime security. The two discussed a Bulgarian-Romanian initiative to establish a Black Sea Maritime Security Centre, envisaged as a key instrument for information exchange, co-ordination among states and improved situational awareness in the region.

Stoyanov stressed that Germany is a strategic ally and a key partner of Bulgaria in NATO and the European Union. He stressed that Bulgaria is consistently fulfilling its allied commitments to enhance defence capabilities and is investing in key rearmament and modernization projects.