BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 18. Bulgarian Defense
Minister Atanas Zapryanov met with the Chair of the NATO Military
Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, during his official visit
to Bulgaria, Trend reports citing the Bulgarian Defense
Ministry.

The visit, initiated at the invitation of Chief of Defence
Admiral Emil Eftimov, highlights Bulgaria’s growing role as a key
NATO ally in deterrence and defence efforts.

During the meeting, Minister Zapryanov and Admiral Cavo Dragone
discussed current security risks and threats stemming from the war
in Ukraine, as well as measures to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and
defence capabilities. Both reaffirmed allied unity in support of
Ukraine, and Admiral Cavo Dragone expressed appreciation for
Bulgaria’s significant contribution through military and
humanitarian assistance.

A major focus of the talks was Bulgaria’s commitment to
modernising its armed forces and building defence capabilities.
Minister Zapryanov emphasized the country’s reliance on support
from NATO partners in these efforts and reaffirmed Bulgaria’s
dedication to fulfilling Alliance security priorities.

Zapryanov also outlined Bulgaria’s national defence priorities,
including efforts to address personnel shortages in the Bulgarian
Army and participation in the EU Commission’s rearmament
initiative. He confirmed Bulgaria’s support for the outcomes of the
NATO summit in The Hague, including the pledge to increase defence
spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. These investments, he noted, will
support not only military modernisation but also the development of
national infrastructure and the defence industry.

Admiral Cavo Dragone praised Bulgaria as a reliable and highly
valued ally, actively contributing to NATO’s collective defence. He
highlighted Bulgaria’s strategic importance for regional security
and commended the performance of the Bulgarian contingent within
the NATO Multinational Battlegroup stationed in Bulgaria, led by
Italy, as well as the Bulgarian military’s participation in NATO
peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Iraq.

He also shared his positive impressions from visiting the Novo
Selo Training Area, where he observed the activities of the NATO
battlegroup. He gave high marks to the group’s operational
capabilities, demonstrated during multinational exercises, which he
said reflect the Alliance’s readiness to respond to modern
threats.

The two sides also discussed the future development of the NATO
Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria, including plans to upgrade
it to brigade level. They reviewed the infrastructure project for
the Kabyle military base, which is expected to receive NATO
funding. Minister Zapryanov noted Bulgaria’s active efforts to
establish a multinational divisional headquarters, which will
assume command and control of NATO formations on Bulgarian
territory, thereby strengthening the Alliance’s defence posture in
the region.

Finally, the discussion covered the critical importance of
NATO’s defence planning and addressed the challenges posed by
hybrid attacks and operations that Bulgaria faces daily.

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

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