site.btaAll NATO Countries Enjoy Same Level of Protection, Deputy Foreign Minister Shalamanov Says

Within NATO, all member states enjoy the same level of protection, Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov said at a briefing of the task force at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the war in the Middle East.

Earlier in the day, Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias announced that Greece would support Bulgaria with air defence assets and personnel to be deployed in northern Greece and covering a large part of Bulgarian territory.

Responding to a question, Shalamanov clarified that the move concerns strengthening NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system, which is a decision taken within the Alliance, including at Bulgaria’s request. Decisions in NATO are made by consensus and depend on the capabilities of individual member states, the Deputy Minister said. He added that Greece had taken the initiative to reinforce air and missile defence in its northern part, which directly covers part of Bulgaria. 

According to Shalamanov, all countries within NATO are protected at the same level. The Alliance’s assets, including Aegis ships in the Eastern Mediterranean, land-based Aegis systems in Romania, Patriot systems deployed by Spain in Turkiye, as well as other capabilities, guarantee this country’s protection.

He said that this protection will continue to develop depending on the situation. At present, NATO is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East with concern, and not a single centimetre of allied territory will remain unprotected, the Deputy Minister assured.