Rewriting strategic documents due to the new reality and more money for defense were outlined at the annual conference of the Chief of Defense.
President Rumen Radev expressed concerns that there will not be enough funds for new projects.
Bulgaria begins talks on new radars, said Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.
Although seemingly in opposite directions, both the president and the defense minister emphasized the need for more funding for the army.
"With this budget, we cannot fully meet the capability goals, and this is extremely important when Europe must now guarantee its own defense", said Radev.
"The budget, as expenses – 2.09%, plus the compensations we have from the equipment provided to Ukraine, will allow us to provide salaries, service the concluded contracts, conclude the contracts for the "Javelin"s, provide ammunition for the ships", added the Minister of Defense.
Atanas Zapryanov pointed out that the NATO summit in The Hague will determine whether 2.5% of GDP will be mandatory or 3% depending on the burdens of the NATO countries.
The Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov said that the priority in 2025 will be the recruitment of military personnel in the Land Forces:
"The steps are correct. Let's be optimistic.
Eftimov defined 2024 as "difficult, but successful" for the Bulgarian army.
As a solution to the shortage, it is necessary to start thinking about military training in schools, said President Radev:
"As happened in Poland - as a mandatory discipline in secondary schools".
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov explained that the topic is outside the government's management program, but work is being done with the ministries, where the training should begin:
"Before we engage the political forces, we, the departments that have such personnel, need to understand each other".