site.btaAfter NATO Summit, PM Zhelyazkov Reaffirms Bulgaria’s Commitment to Increasing Defence Spending to 5% of GDP by 2035

Bulgaria reaffirms its commitment to increasing its public spending on defence to 5% of GDP by 2035, a goal approved unanimously for all member states during the NATO Summit in The Hague, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Wednesday. “Our country is in the middle of transforming its defence capabilities and will develop its defence industry, and therefore we will make targeted investments in this domain,” Zhelyazkov said after the summit, as quoted in a government press release.

He explained that out of the total, core spending on defence is planned to reach 3.5% of GDP, and the remaining 1.5% will be additional defence-related expenditures such as “investments, technologies, know-how transfers, and infrastructure for dual [military and civilian] use.” There are no annual targets. “The important thing is to reach the goal by 2035,” he said. In addition to the resources of the country’s state budget, the Prime Minister noted the potential of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, which Bulgaria can use as well.

A national defence investment plan will be drawn up, Zhelyazkov said. He dismissed fears that defence spending will eat into the funding for other important sectors. “Everything will be laid down in the national plan, any exotic ideas will be left out. Expenditures cannot be a cause for concern, only revenue shortages can. A well-working economy should always ensure growth, a rising GDP,” the Prime Minister argued.

He said it is important for NATO to expand its defence capabilities to deter aggressive behaviour against itself and against any of its members. “NATO is much stronger and much more united now. Led by the United States, it looks much stronger than it did at the beginning of this year,” Zhelyazkov said. He stressed that the bloc has an important role to play vis-a-vis the Western Balkans, where “Russia’s malicious, hybrid efforts find fertile ground, as evidenced by the conduct of some of the countries in the region.”