Defense Minister: NATO Guarantees Bulgaria’s Security, Going Solo Not an Option

Acting defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said that the concept of Bulgaria relying on its own defense outside a collective system would place an unsustainable burden on the country’s economy and public finances. Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio, he stressed that from a military perspective, not a political one, national security is ensured through NATO, which remains the key guarantor of Bulgaria’s defense.

He drew a comparison with the past, noting that during the Warsaw Pact period Bulgaria maintained armed forces exceeding 120,000 personnel and spent around 9% of its GDP on defense, alongside an additional 4–5% for infrastructure. In his words, stepping outside NATO today would require a significant expansion of military capabilities and a sharp increase in spending, which would inevitably hinder economic development. According to Zapryanov, participation in collective defense allows Bulgaria to meet its constitutional obligations with far fewer national resources, while benefiting from shared systems such as air and missile defense in an increasingly unpredictable security environment.

The minister expressed confidence that concerns surrounding potential US withdrawal from NATO would be resolved. He pointed out that the presence of American aircraft in Sofia is part of allied commitments and reflects forward deployment on NATO’s eastern flank. Zapryanov clarified that Bulgaria is not involved in the conflict between the United States and Iran, and neither is NATO. He underlined that no combat flights have been conducted through Bulgarian airspace and no such requests have been received, with several European countries also refusing overflight permissions.

Regarding the diplomatic note from Iran, Zapryanov described it as part of standard communication and not as a military threat. He said Bulgaria maintains normal relations with Tehran and has kept the Iranian side informed about the nature of the deployed US aircraft. Discussions are ongoing about potentially relocating these aircraft, while consultations with the American side continue. He added that flight activity at Sofia Airport is expected to increase after April 15, and authorities are working to address public concerns.

Zapryanov категорично rejected claims that Bulgaria has supplied Ukraine with air defense systems, stating that only outdated Soviet-era equipment has been provided. He emphasized that any such decision would require approval by the National Assembly, not the government alone, and assured that the Bulgarian Air Force retains sufficient missile capabilities. He also noted that the agreement with Ukraine aligns Bulgaria with 26 NATO member states and offers significant opportunities, without representing a deviation from broader European policy.

The defense minister also announced plans for a joint military production facility in Bulgaria in cooperation with Rheinmetall. The plant is expected to produce ammunition in quantities sufficient to meet the needs of the Bulgarian army for years ahead, while also targeting international markets. According to Zapryanov, this project will contribute to the development of modern industrial defense capabilities in the country.