Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov denied allegations that by not taking part in the Poseidon 21 maneuvers Bulgaria is sabotaging the NATO exercise, stating they were irresponsible. Minister Karakachanov called for a stronger sense of responsibility when it comes to the army, instead of looking for tawdry sensations, BTA reports. 

“How can you send a ship with a 40-member crew when 5 have Covid-19,” Krasimir Karakachanov said at the opening of a chief of defence conference in Sofia, commenting on what stopped the two Bulgarian warships from taking part in Poseidon 21:

“This is no precedent. It is an established NATO practice when there are such cases, the formation or part of the formation in question to be withdrawn from the exercise in view of people's health, safety and their lives.”