18.11.2019
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
"I highly value the Alliance's role in protecting our security, freedom and democratic values. For us, Bulgaria's national security and defense are only guaranteed within the framework of NATO's collective defense, "Prime Minister Borissov told Stoltenberg.
The two spoke on the eve of the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held on December 3-4, 2019 in London.
Bulgaria's Prime Minister said that, given today's risks and challenges to the international environment and security, our country views the unity of Europe and North America as more important than ever. "For Bulgaria, the transatlantic link is crucial for our collective defense," said Boyko Borissov. He praised the topics that will be the focus of the NATO Summit in London, addressing all key elements of the security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic area.
"I believe that the decisions of the High-level Forum will further strengthen both the deterrent and defense capabilities and the transatlantic link between Europe and North America," Prime Minister Borissov told the NATO Secretary General.
During his conversation with Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister noted that since the beginning of 2018, Bulgaria has successfully implemented the National Plan for Increasing the Defense Spending by 2024. "With the advance payment of 8 F-16V Block 70 aircraft, this goal is already achieved and at the end of this 2019, spending is expected to reach 3.1% of GDP," Prime Minister Borissov outlined. He told Stoltenberg that our country's goals are focused on three main areas - increasing defense spending, modernization and rearmament, and overcoming the shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces. We are actively working on the priorities and in the coming years the implementation of the key modernization projects (the acquisition of new combat aircraft, ships and vehicles) will continue.
"Bulgaria will continue to support the Alliance's efforts to achieve global peace and security. We consider our participation in NATO missions and operations a top priority and intend to maintain our commitment and contribution to them, " Borissov also said during the telephone conversation with Stoltenberg. The Prime Minister paid special attention to the role of joint military trainings, which contribute to improving the interoperability of the Bulgarian Armed Forces with that of other NATO member states.
Borissov and Stoltenberg also discussed strengthening the NATO-EU cooperation, as the Alliance is the fundamental basis of the collective defense in Europe. "Only together, united in NATO, can we address the challenges and threats to the security of our societies," Prime Minister Borissov said.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Alliance were certain that together we must defend our shared values and principles - freedom, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, which make us strong and capable.
Stoltenberg visited Bulgaria only a few months ago - this spring, at the invitation of Prime Minister Borissov, which was addressed to the Secretary General of NATO at the 2018 UN General Assembly in New York at the reception of US President Donald Trump.
