The multinational Saber Guardian 17 exercise that started at the military site in Novo Selo, southern Bulgaria, has completely defensive character and does not aim at being a provocation to anyone, military commanders taking part in the exercise have said.

Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe, expressed his satisfaction that the part of the exercise that is taking place in Bulgaria is being monitored by a Russian inspection group, which provided transparency and an opportunity for overcoming misunderstandings about what was being done.

In the framework of Saber Guardian 17, at the Bulgarian military training facilities in Novo Selo, Koren, Shabla, Bezmer and Burgas, a total of 7 exercises will be conducted with the participation of 4 000 Bulgarian and 6 000 foreign troops.