Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Defence Minister Zakov: 2% of GDP for defence is insufficient, we need a higher percentage

Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov.
Photo: BGNES

The second batch of eight F-16 fighter jets could be delivered by 2027. This was said by Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov to the Defence Committee in Parliament. "We are still in talks with the American side. We have not yet reached the stage of negotiating a price offer. I expect that to happen sometime in June," he added.
The cost of the equipment that Bulgaria would have to buy is between 3 and 6.6 billion euros, Zakov said. 
2% of GDP would not be sufficient to cover the needs, so we should re-consider a higher percentage for defence, he said.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

NSI: Bulgaria's population continues to shrink

Bulgaria's population was 6,437,360 at the end of 2024, down by 8,121 people (0.13%) from the previous year, according to the National Statistical Institute. All 28 regions recorded negative natural growth. As of December 31, 2024, there were..

published on 4/29/25 1:43 PM

BNR now delivers news through an AI avatar

The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) is successfully integrating artificial intelligence into its programmes. The public radio’s news is now read by an AI avatar trained in Bulgarian, operating in a virtual environment. One year after the public..

published on 4/29/25 11:32 AM

A delegation of Vazrazhdane party visits Moscow

A delegation comprising MPs from Vazrazhdane party arrived in Moscow on Sunday. The delegation is led by Tsoncho Ganev, Deputy Chairman of Vazrazhdane and Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Georgi Georgiev, Deputy Chairman of..

published on 4/29/25 10:38 AM