site.btaMultinational NATO Battlegroup in Bulgaria May Expand to Brigade Level

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov held a meeting with the Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, during the admiral’s official visit to Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry reported on Wednesday. The visit, carried out at the invitation of Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, underscores Bulgaria’s growing role as a key NATO ally in the Alliance’s deterrence and defence efforts, according to the press release.

During the meeting, Zapryanov and Cavo Dragone discussed current security risks and threats arising from the war in Ukraine, and measures to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities. The unity of Allies in supporting Ukraine was emphasized, with the guest expressing gratitude for Bulgaria’s substantial contribution to collective security through the provision of both military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

A key focus of the talks was Bulgaria’s commitment to modernizing its Armed Forces and building up its defence capabilities. Zapryanov noted that Bulgaria relies on NATO partners’ support in implementing these initiatives and reaffirmed the country’s dedication to fulfilling the Alliance’s security priorities.

The Defence Minister briefed the NATO Military Committee Chair on Bulgaria’s national defence priorities, including efforts to address staffing shortages in the Armed Forces and the country’s participation in the European Commission’s rearmament initiative for EU member states. He confirmed Bulgaria’s support for the decisions made at the recent NATO Summit in The Hague, including the commitment to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. These investments, he noted, would benefit not only the Armed Forces’ modernization but also the development of national infrastructure and the defence industry.

Admiral Cavo Dragone described Bulgaria as a reliable and highly valued Ally that actively contributes to NATO’s collective defence. He highlighted Bulgaria’s key role in regional security and praised the performance of the Bulgarian contingent within the NATO Multinational Battlegroup stationed in Bulgaria, led by Italy as the framework nation. He also acknowledged Bulgaria’s contributions to NATO’s peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Iraq.

The Admiral expressed strong impressions following his visit to the Novo Selo Training Area, where he observed the Multinational Battlegroup’s activities. He gave high praise to the operational capabilities demonstrated during multinational exercises, viewing them as clear evidence of Allies’ readiness to respond effectively to modern threats.

The discussions also addressed the future development of the Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria, with the potential to elevate it to brigade level. The two sides also reviewed the planned infrastructure project at the Kabile military area, which is expected to receive NATO funding. Minister Zapryanov emphasized that Bulgaria is working intensively on establishing a multinational divisional headquarters that will take command of units in Bulgarian territory, further enhancing NATO’s regional defence posture.

Additionally, the two sides discussed NATO’s defence plans as crucial to reinforcing security and addressed the ongoing challenges Bulgaria faces daily in relation to hybrid actions and attacks.

Also attending the meeting were Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, and Bulgaria’s military representative to the NATO and EU Military Committees, Lieutenant General Yavor Mateev.