The call of the US President Donald Trump, who did not join the NATO countries, for 5% of GDP for defense is unrealistic, said former Defense Minister Prof. Todor Tagarev in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio.
"5% of GDP is a huge expense. In 2024, the US was with 3.38% of theirs and approximately that much remains. And Poland and Estonia had expenses greater than those of the US and as a percentage of GDP. This is a goal that NATO countries discussed a long time ago, but accepted it as a commitment to achieve by 2024," he commented and specified that these 5% of GDP was accepted as a goal back in 2014.
According to Prof. Tagarev said that the goal has already been achieved by almost all NATO member states, with the exception of the Mediterranean ones - Italy, Portugal, etc.: "Not because Trump insisted, but because of Putin's large-scale war in 2022 and the reassessment of the security environment. Most countries passed 2%, others passed 4%, some are chasing 5%. The threat is perceived differently. In Vilnius, the countries also admitted that 2% is a minimum. Now 5% is not realistic, it would be a big burden on NATO countries, considering the current situation. If Putin is building a capacity for future aggression in Europe, then we can talk about 5%, but I think that is not realistic".
The former defense minister recalled that for 2023 the defense budget was increased by 400 million leva and for 2024 also with as much more:
"We met the requirements of the budget and social spending. Now Minister Zapryanov is saying that our new goal should be 2.5% of GDP, because these 2% are not enough to build Bulgaria's defense capabilities".
About Ukraine's entry into NATO, Prof. Tagarev said: "The statements made by people from Trump's entourage and himself that they are inclined to accept Putin's condition that Ukraine not become a member of NATO in the foreseeable future mean that Ukraine can hardly count on it as a guarantee of its security in a ceasefire agreement. One alternative is to provide guarantees to Ukraine, such as the US gives to Japan and South Korea. Other options are for Ukraine to be provided with enormous military-technical assistance so that it can defend itself and guarantee its security. This is the most likely option".
According to him, it will be difficult to find a solution for a peace agreement for Ukraine, because Putin does not give any indications that he is willing to give up his goals and wants to return Ukraine from the path to the EU and NATO.
Prof. Todor Tagarev believes that Trump's statements about Greenland and the Panama Canal are not worrisome for the use of large-scale force, because this cannot happen without a decision by the US Congress.