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

President Radev: I’m not in a rush to join the fanfare surrounding rearmament

Bulgaria's president Rumen Radev.
Photo: BGNES

In light of the EU's recently announced plan to rearm Europe, President Rumen Radev told journalists that he had always advocated a more responsible approach to security, both by Europe and by Bulgaria. 

"The modernisation of the Bulgarian Army and the strengthening of the defence industry should be a top, constant and conscious commitment of every government, instead of waiting for instructions from Brussels," the president stressed. He noted that during the last summit in Brussels, much was said about rearmament, but almost nothing about ending the war in Ukraine, a war that is dragging Europe down.
"I am in no hurry to join the fanfare surrounding the EU's rearmament plan. There's a whirlwind of enthusiasm, and many think there will be 800 billion for investment in defence and the defence industry. But let's be clear - such funds do not exist. There will be loans and the possibility of renouncing structural and cohesion funds, which means that you'll give up water supply projects, infrastructure, environment and social projects, and redirect these funds to the defence industry," the head of state said.

Rumen Radev expressed his expectation that the Bulgarian government would take a responsible and critical approach to the country's commitments on this issue.



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

Bulgaria had the highest birth rate in the EU in 2023

The birth rate in the EU in 2023 fell by 5.4% compared to 2022. This is the largest annual decrease since 1961. Bulgaria had the highest total birth rate in the EU in 2023 with 1.81 live births per woman. This is according to data..

published on 3/7/25 4:09 PM

Bulgarian President discusses cooperation in defence with leading US companies

An American business delegation is visiting Bulgaria at the initiative of President Rumen Radev. Among the guests are representatives of leading companies operating in the defence, space and cyber industries and high technologies...

published on 3/7/25 3:39 PM

Information campaign on the introduction of the euro starts in March

A large-scale information campaign on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria will begin in March, Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova said at a hearing in parliament. The slogan of the campaign is "Unity is Strength". An..

published on 3/7/25 2:19 PM