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

PM Denkov pledges 2% of GDP for defence in 2024

| updated on 6/30/23 8:46 AM
Nikolay Denkov (L) and Jens Stoltenberg, Brussels, 29 June, 2023
Photo: EPA/BGNES

At a meeting in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said Bulgaria’s defence spending for 2023 would be slightly under 1.9% of the GDP, and will reach 2%, as required by the EU, in 2024.

“Your country plays an important role in our collective response. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Bulgaria has participated actively in NATO’s deterrence and defence in the Black Sea region,” Jens Stoltenberg on his part said. “You host one of NATO’s multinational battlegroups, led by Italy. And your naval forces help to secure the Black Sea, as part of NATO patrols. In the Western Balkans, Bulgarian troops play a key role in our KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. (…) All of these contributions to the Alliance are valued and appreciated. To keep Bulgaria safe, NATO continues to provide strong deterrence and defence in your region. On land, at sea, and in the air. NATO will continue to support and defend Bulgaria. (…) We have also agreed a new rotational model for air and missile defence. So that we can move quickly from air policing to air defence, if needed,” Jens Stoltenberg said, and added “…I count on Bulgaria to commit to the more ambitious defence investment pledge that we will agree at the Summit.”



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

Tuesday brings more cloudy skies and rain

Rain will continue to fall on and off in many places. It will be almost rainless along the Danube and in northeastern Bulgaria.  Minimum temperatures will be between 5° and 10°C, in Sofia - 7°C, and maximum - between 11°C and 16°C, in Sofia - about 11°C...

published on 3/31/25 7:05 PM
Ilia Prodanov

Farmers are ready to protest due to the lack of irrigation water

Farmers across the country have declared their readiness for effective protests due to a lack of irrigation water, reported BNR’s correspondent Veselina Milanova. The Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber has sent a letter demanding an urgent meeting with..

published on 3/31/25 5:57 PM

Toll fees increase on April 1, vignettes on May 1

The increase in vignette prices will take effect on May 1, while the new higher toll fees for heavy goods vehicles and buses will take effect on April 1 . Additionally, a second toll fee adjustment is scheduled for September 1.  From May 1, the..

published on 3/31/25 5:30 PM