The creation of this Center for Defense Innovation is a complete mystery. It is not clear what functions, what numbers, what funding, or what direction it is. It is assumed that it is about gathering specialists to indicate the directions in which the Bulgarian defense industry should develop in terms of state property. This was stated by former Defense Minister Angel Naydenov in the program “From the Day” on BNT, quoted by novini.bg.
You have industrial defense capabilities if you develop them, but this has not been done in the last 4 years. Until two days ago, no one in Europe was talking about these things. The Defense Institute exists in the Ministry of Defense. Innovations sound nice, but it's a big nothing. Do we have the expertise?, said former Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov.
„We observe that they talk to us about innovations in defense, and yesterday the workers of TEREM - Targovishte protested for unpaid salaries. In the last 4 years, TEREM - Targovishte has not been allowed to repair a single tank. The idea for 800 billion for defense was born at a meeting in London. These funds will be directed to the right companies. If we do not take care of our military industry, no one will. Orders should be for our enterprises, not to buy junk from abroad”, believes Karakachanov.
In terms of modernization, the Bulgarian defense industry has exported production for 2.2 million euros, which is a significant increase. We have a continuous increase in the capabilities of the defense industry, the question is whether it is reinvested in modernization and whether additional production is developed. Bulgaria produces light small arms, observation and optical systems, grenade launchers, etc. We can cooperate with other enterprises and joint orders, specified Naydenov.
He defined the decision to increase defense spending in the EU as overdue. “The development of Europe's defense capabilities has never started with big steps. There are different options by which funds can be raised, such as increasing national budgets,” Angel Naydenov pointed out.
I have always said that if Europe wants to be a serious geopolitical factor in world politics, it must first have a strong economy and then its own security structure, Karakachanov announced. “Europe is currently able to defeat itself. This idea is being updated purely conjuncturally to resist Putin. A coalition was formed in London against Trump. This is an attempt to pressure the US and Trump, saying that we can do without him. But we can't. That's why I don't believe that the intentions of those in Brussels are sincere. Without a nuclear potential, European defense will not be equal to either the Americans or the Russians. But who in Europe will hold the nuclear briefcase and push the button?”, asked the leader of VMRO.
Then, when we seek peace in Ukraine, it must be through strength and security, believes Angel Naydenov.