BTA :: Ideal Synchronization Achieved between Military Police Formations from 10 Countries at BEYOND HORIZON 25 Exercise

Ideal Synchronization Achieved between Military Police Formations from 10 Countries at BEYOND HORIZON 25 Exercise - Deputy Chief of Defence

Dimitrina Solakova, BTA correspondent Velina Vasileva

The Bulgarian Deputy Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, speaking to reporters during the BEYOND HORIZON 25 exercise, Novo Selo Training Area, May 20, 2025 (BTA Photo/Velina Vasileva)

Novo Selo Training Area, Southeastern Bulgaria,

20.05.2025 16:07

(BTA)

Commenting on the BEYOND HORIZON 25 exercise here on Tuesday, the Bulgarian Deputy Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, told journalists that perfect synchronization achieved between the military police formations of the ten participating countries. Tuesday's media day of the international military police exercise featured a demonstration of riot control, detention, restoration of public order and aeromedical evacuation, together with the certified module from the Military Medical Academy and the Air Force.

The exercise takes place at the Novo Selo Training Area from May 12 to 21. It is organised by the Military Police Service. Military police officers from Bulgaria and NATO partner countries (Canada, Czechia, Spain, Greece, Italy, the Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, and the USA) as well as from the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria are participating in the event. The Bulgarian side is represented by more than 100 military personnel, including military police officers from the five regional structures of the Military Police Service, teams from the Military Medical Academy, and an aircraft and crew from the Air Force.

The Military Police Service head, Brigadier General Ivaylo Sotirov, commented that they demonstrated all the capabilities of the Military Police Service in the context of NATO standards. "Ten NATO member countries participated in the exercise, which is the largest number ever in this exercise, and we demonstrated interoperability," he told journalists, recalling that that this is one of three NATO police exercises and has been held annually in this format since 2009.

Lieutenant General Popov said that this is only a part of the Military Police's activities, along with covering all events related to military personnel - exercises, public events, etc. "The work of servicepersons cannot be determined by economic criteria," the Deputy Defence Chief said. "Our labour brings no income, no profit, no dividends. The training that the personnel of the Bulgarian Armed Forces receive in the daily training process on the training grounds, together with the weapons and equipment, forms the combat potential. It is an integral and essential part of the country's defence potential," he argued.

Capt. Margaret Page of the Tennessee Army National Guard's 117th Military Police Battalion, which has been participating in the joint exercise since 2019, told reporters: "Our primary goal in this exercise was to establish and build a working multinational headquarters, which I believe we were completely successful in doing."

The Military Police is to ensure the movement of military equipment and personnel from various garrisons to the Koren Training Area, where the exercise Bulgarian Defender 25 will take place.

/MR/