Joint press statements

Dear Atanas and dear Ivan, 

I am delighted to be here in Bulgaria. 
And to meet with the troops serving as part of NATO’s forward land forces here in Bulgaria.

Your country plays a key role in our security in the Black Sea and beyond.

This multinational battlegroup in Novo Selo is exercising the ability to scale up to brigade size. 

Supporting NATO security on the eastern flank.

And sending a clear message that we are there to defend our nations together. 

I am happy to say that Bulgaria is, at this moment, spending at least 2% of GDP. It is even spending more than 2% of GDP as we agreed a couple of years ago.  

All our Nations are confronted with deficits in the national budget. It is crucial that we will make sure that we keep defence spending as high as possible. 

I would say this could, it is even higher than 2% we have to do more. But again, I am so happy that Bulgaria is at 2%.

I call all Allies to step up and to spend more and to make sure that we also produce more in terms of defence industrial production.
Bulgaria is also helping Ukraine to defend against the Russian aggression. 

And I want to thank you for your great contribution to help Ukraine to be able, one day to start talks on a peace deal from a position of strength, and that is what we need to achieve.

What Bulgaria is doing is making Bulgaria stronger, but it is also making the whole of the Alliance stronger and safer.

So, thank you to Bulgaria for your enormous contribution to our shared security.

Thank you.

Question: [Inaudible] we understand Bulgaria is not ready to sign a security agreement document with Ukraine. What signal does it send?
If the Minister of Defence can answer this and if the Secretary General can comment.

Bulgaria Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov: Answers in Bulgarian.

NATO Secretary General: Let me only add that there is no obligation for NATO Allies to have bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, and I know that there have been many who have a security agreement, others are still negotiating them but the most important thing is to make sure that we get the military aid, so air defence systems and other military aid out to Ukraine and here, Bulgaria is really doing a lot and that is important.

And going forward these are the two priorities. Military aid plus training to make sure that Ukraine, one day, can start whatever talks they will then have on their initiative with the Russians to end all of this. But we have to get them in a position of strength, and this is exactly what Bulgaria is contributing and making sure that it can happen so air defence systems, other military aid, training, that is what we have to focus on.