site.btaSofia Hosts Conference on “New Realities in Foreign Policy, Defence, and the Defence Industry”

Senior government officials and politicians from Bulgaria, leading politicians from the EU and NATO, scientists and practitioners of the academic and research community, and military industry and investment companies executives discussed the new realities in foreign policy and their impact on the economy and defence of Bulgaria, Europe and the world at an international conference, organized in Sofia on Tuesday by the non-governmental Center for Development and Policies. More specifically, the participants focused on EU re-armament and the challenges facing NATO and the present and future of the defence sector in Bulgaria and Europe.

Following are highlights of the discussion:

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov: Today, more than ever before, our position is and must continue to be firm: a strong state cannot exist without a strong army and a modern and competitive defence industry. The time for illusions in international politics is over. Today, security is a true but also very fragile necessity. Nevertheless, the threats are close by, manifold, and very persistent. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has shattered the last illusions that security in Europe can be built on compromises with autocratic regimes nearby. Bulgaria views its defence capabilities not simply as technical skills and abilities, as personnel capacity, but above all as a national priority of the highest level. This is a war not only against one country, Ukraine, but against the principles of international law, against the principles on which we have built the EU and NATO. Bulgaria supports Ukraine because it supports peace, security and freedom, and will continue to do so through political and diplomatic means, providing timely military and technical assistance. We know that the war will end, but this will not solve the problem of instability, and that is why we are obliged to think strategically. NATO is our only guarantor of security, but we must be an active and full participant. Bulgaria is committed to a higher defence budget not because it is an obligation, not because the EU said so, and not because NATO wants it. We are convinced because this is necessary for the Bulgarian armed forces. It’s not weapons for NATO that we are buying, they are weapons for the Bulgarian military. We need to adhere to the already established defence spending of 2.5-3% of the GDP because this is a must for the modern army. We can no longer make compromises with the capabilities of our army. modernization is not an end in itself but an investment in the authority of the state, trust in the institutions and the commitment to the country's allies. The Bulgarian position in Brussels is clear and active. We support the establishment of European mechanisms for financing defence. We are using the new opportunity, which was a Bulgarian idea, offered by the so-called budget buffer. We do not want to limit other important public spheres at the expense of increasing defence spending. Bulgaria needs an industry that not only manufactures but also exports, creates jobs and invests in technology.

Bulgaria’s former Chief of Defence, General Konstantin Popov (Ret.): The conference is held simultaneously with meetings of EU ministers of defence and foreign affairs and a related European Parliament debate, and comes a month before the NATO Summit in The Hague.

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip Breedlove (Ret.): Russian President Vladimir Putin obviously realizes what it would mean to cross the NATO border and invade the bloc. I am happy that NATO maintains a capability level which tells Putin: “You don’t want to do that.” However, conventional deterrence beyond NATO is zero. With Putin waging a war in Ukraine and hybrid wars in Georgia and Moldova, and given some goings-on in Nagorno-Karabakh, NATO needs to restore its deterrence in these regions.

Dimitar Gardev MP (There Is Such a People): It is necessary to build new weapon systems. Bulgaria firmly supports NATO’s decisions about increasing the defence spending-to-GDP ratio. Bulgaria needs to promptly re-arm its Armed Forces. Sofia has reservations about re-allocating money from the EU Cohesion Fund, Common Agricultural Policy facilities and the Regional Development Programme. Bulgaria and Romania are among the largest beneficiaries of such aid, and defence plans should not come at the expense of these programmes. Strong defence requires a strong economy and well-developed regions.

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Ivan Kondov: Bulgaria, the EU and NATO may well face a new decade of instability, and they need to be prepared for that. The war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict are the two main hot spots affecting affect European security. Within the EU, Bulgaria remains active in every way. Bulgaria and Romania deserve credit for initiating the adoption of a strategy for the Black Sea. We hope it materializes in the middle of this year. EU-NATO cooperation is important, and military mobility needs to be developed. One of the military transport and economic routes which is most important to us is Corridor VIII. There, we are regrettably confronted by the reluctance of the Republic of North Macedonia to develop this corridor. We hear nothing but accusations that Bulgaria has done nothing. It often happens that we are discreet and cautious about our relations [with North Macedonia], as we don’t want to undermine them in any way, although they are not very good as they are. The part [of Corridor VIII] left to be built on the Bulgarian side of the border is just about 2 km long and can be finished very quickly. It is already on the programme of our government. There is a 23 km stretch on the Norh Macedonia side of the border which is not ready at all.

Former Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister and former Deputy Economy Minister Milen Keremedchiev: Ten years ago, when Russia invaded Crimea, the EU ignored the writing on the wall. Up until the present day, the Russian defence budget is double the size of the defence budget of the NATO member states.

Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov: The EU Common Security and Defence Policy saves significant amounts from national budgets, particularly for countries like Bulgaria. This is where NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATO IAMD) comes into effect. We will participate in the integrated defence system with the F-16 Block 70 aircraft we are acquiring, as well as with air defence complexes we are purchasing that meet the required standards and are within our financial capabilities. For certain capabilities that would place an excessive burden on our budget, we will rely on the NATO IAMD. Two per cent of GDP for defence spending will not be sufficient. The debate within NATO is moving toward 3.5% defence spending, plus an additional 1.5% for defence-related investments. Bulgaria must establish a command system capable of supporting the actions of both the Bulgarian Armed Forces and NATO forces deployed in the region, in peacetime, during crises, and in conflict. The package of capability goals developed within NATO far exceeds the scope and number of projects currently included in Bulgaria’s investment plan-programme, and the plan needs updating.

Bulgarian Deputy Innovation and Growth Minister Georgi Angelov: The global defence industry is valued at around USD 2.5 trillion and is expected to grow by approximately 10% annually, reaching USD 4.8 trillion in six to seven years.

Deputy Head of the European Commission European Defence Fund Unit Krastyo Preslavski: Until just a few years ago, the word 'defence' was almost taboo in the EU. Most countries said that was NATO’s job. Today, the situation is completely different. Europe has woken up and is taking decisive action. Bulgaria is participating in 28 European defence projects and has joined one of the EU’s first five joint procurement initiatives - a project for an air defence missile system.

Stanislav Anastassov MP (Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning): Bulgarian foreign policy should focus more on supporting the trade interests of national companies by facilitating contacts with potential partners. Bulgarian ambassadors should be required to be skilled diplomats and capable of promoting trade. Our industry is currently riding a wave, largely due to Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. Much of it was on the verge of collapse before February 2022. Now there’s momentum, but it won’t last forever. We need to use this momentum to reformat the sector into something sustainable.

University of National and World Economy Rector Dimitar Dimitrov: Bulgaria must strengthen the tools that promote cooperation and integration between its defence industry and the European and NATO industries.

Defence Institute Director Colonel Borislav Genov: We must work together with industry. In the second phase of the programme, our ambitious goal is to achieve more practical and applicable results.