28.06.2024
The position for the NATO Summit in Washington as approved by the cabinet fully conforms to Bulgaria’s national interest and reiterates the country’s consistent support for Ukraine both at national and allied level and is fully compliant with the National Assembly’s decisions.
The Bulgarian position has been elaborated in detail for nearly a year by the Permanent Delegation of Bulgaria to NATO, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document is classified, as always when it expresses positions of the Republic of Bulgaria on foreign policy matters and relevant international issues where unrestricted reading would adversely affect the interests of the country. One of the reasons is that the document refers to a number of other internal Alliance processes and documentation of the allies, including documents that are classified as top-secret.
Although the document about the Washington Summit is not subject to disclosure, it does not set forth any positions that are different from those as previously released by Bulgaria:
Bulgaria remains fully committed to the strong and united response of NATO, the EU and the international democratic community to the brutal Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
Bulgaria firmly supports Ukraine in its just cause to defend its right to freedom and independence and free choice of its own security safeguards.
A peace outcome of the war shall not be detrimental to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia shall abide by international law.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a conflict between these two countries and NATO is not to be directly involved in this war. Bulgaria advocates that the NATO support for Kyiv comprising military equipment and training for servicemen outside the territory of Ukraine be reiterated.
Bulgaria supports the plans that were drawn up at the insistence of the Eastern Flank countries just as it supports the deployment of NATO troops on the Eastern Flank. This strengthens the defense capabilities of the Alliance and further ensures collective defense.
So far, there has been no discussion nor is it planned to discuss any deployment of Bulgarian troops in Ukraine.
Bulgaria stands ready to continue to provide military and technical support to Ukraine. So far, the country has provided six packages of military and technical assistance, which is not unpaid and is reimbursed by three sources: the European Peace Facility, international financial support or other allied states.
In the context of the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria’s NATO membership and the 75th anniversary of the foundation of NATO marked this year, Bulgaria remains a loyal and reliable partner for the common security policy of the North Atlantic Treaty.
