site.btaPM Zhelyazkov: NATO Must Focus on Black Sea and South-East Flank

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Wednesday that Bulgaria’s position at the NATO Summit in The Hague was to strengthen the alliance’s defensive capabilities with special attention to its southeastern flank and the Black Sea region. 

Zhelyazkov noted this approach aims to guarantee energy and food security in light of the ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, not far from Bulgarian territory.

The basis for this position is “to guarantee energy and food security,” Zhelyazkov specified.

“On the other hand, there are the Western Balkans, where harmful and hybrid efforts by Russia have found fertile ground, as can be seen from the behaviour of some Western Balkan countries,” Zhelyazkov added.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov led the Bulgarian delegation at the NATO Summit in The Hague, joined by Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov. Upon arrival, Zhelyazkov was welcomed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.