16.02.2024
Bulgaria is an exceptional partner for the United States and for Europe. We see the manifestation of this every day in a variety of ways. This was stated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who met today in Munich with Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Assen Vassilev and by Defense Minister Todor Tagarev. The discussion, which took longer than planned, underscored the Bulgaria-US cooperation in the fields of defense and nuclear energy. The process of modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces was recognized in view of the new military purchases – the Stryker vehicles and the F16 Block 70 fighters. We continue to promote integration between Bulgaria, the European Union and NATO, Antony Blinken noted. The US Secretary of State specially thanked Bulgaria for its assistance to Ukraine and for the leadership that it demonstrated thus that is important for the security and stability of the whole Black Sea region.
Bulgaria is a key country in the effort to defend the Black Sea region, the Eastern Flank of NATO, Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov said for his part. At the opening of the discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Prime Minister noted that the current problems could be seized as opportunities for the development of the region and for the placement of Bulgaria and of NATO in a way that would ensure stability. We are strongly committed and that is why we are here with Mariya Gabriel to work together where Bulgaria belongs – in the institutions of Europe and of NATO, as a reliable partner, Acad. Nikolai Denkov said. The Prime Minister specially thanked the United States for the support when Russia turned off gas supplies to Bulgaria. You were there to help us and we can count on each other in the future, too, Acad. Denkov said further.
The fight against disinformation was likewise in the focus of the discussion as were the possibilities for further coordination of efforts towards that. Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov underscored, inter alia, the development of the South-North corridor, from the Greek ports, via Bulgaria, to Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. These are projects that require sizeable investment, on the one hand, and that are very important both for the economic and defense stature of the region, on the other hand, the Prime Minister said firmly. In addition, the meeting touched on the fight against the trafficking in human beings and dual-use items.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov commented for the media the world news reporting the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The Prime Minister’s position here:
