Bulgaria’s PM held telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has held a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the government press office said on November 18.

"I highly value the Alliance's role in protecting our security, freedom and democratic values. For us, Bulgaria's national security and defence are guaranteed only within the framework of NATO's collective defence," Prime Minister Borissov told Stoltenberg.

The two spoke on the eve of the NATO Summit of Heads of State or Government, which will be held on 3 and 4 December 2019 in London. Bulgaria's Prime Minister said that, given today's risks and challenges to the international security environment, Bulgaria views the unity of Europe and North America as more important than ever. "For Bulgaria, the transatlantic link is at the heart of our collective defence," 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 the decisions of the high forum will further strengthen both the deterrent and defence capabilities and the transatlantic link between Europe and North America," Prime Minister Borissov told the NATO Secretary General.

In his conversation with Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister noted that since the beginning of 2018, Bulgaria has successfully implemented the National Plan for Increasing the Defence Spending by 2024. "With the advance payment of 8 F-16V Block 70 aircraft, this goal is already achieved and by the end of this 2019, spending is expected to reach 3.1% of GDP," PM Borisov said.

He told Stoltenberg that Bulgaria’s goals are focused on three main areas - increasing defence spending, modernization and rearmament, and overcoming the shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces. The priorities are being actively worked on and in the coming years the implementation of the key modernization projects (the acquisition of new combat aircraft, ships and combat 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," Borisov told Stoltenberg. The PM paid special attention to the role of joint military exercises, which contribute to improving the interoperability of the Bulgarian Armed Forces with that of other NATO member states.

Borissov and Stoltenberg also discussed strengthening NATO-EU cooperation, as it is the Alliance that underpins collective defence in Europe. "Only together, united in NATO, we can meet 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 adamant 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, who invited the NATO Secretary General at the 2018 UN General Assembly in New York at the reception of US President Donald Trump.