Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, Commander of the US Fifth Army Corps, visited Bulgaria from March 13-15. During his visit, he met with the Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov, to strengthen the close defense cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria.
This was announced by the US Embassy.
The talks focused on ongoing military cooperation, including joint training and operational readiness, with a special emphasis on upcoming exercises.
The exercise “Defender 2025,” which will begin in March, is a large-scale multinational military exercise that will improve interoperability between U.S. and Bulgarian forces and strengthen NATO's collective defense capabilities in the region.
In addition, Lieutenant General Costanza and Admiral Eftimov discussed the upcoming delivery of Stryker combat vehicles to Bulgaria. The delivery of these vehicles will mark another important step in the modernization process of the Land Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, demonstrating the country's commitment to strengthening national defense and deterring regional threats.
“Bulgaria is a reliable friend, ally, and partner of the United States. The United States deeply values its strategic partnership with Bulgaria both bilaterally and within NATO“, said Lieutenant General Costanza. “The U.S. military presence in Bulgaria is a clear sign of our strong commitment to the Alliance and to strengthening regional security. At the Novo Selo Training Range, American and Bulgarian service members train side by side, strengthening their cooperation and improving their interoperability. This partnership helps the U.S. and Bulgarian armed forces enhance their capabilities while ensuring greater security and national sovereignty and deepening the bonds between our nations. The Fifth Army Corps soldiers highly value the opportunity to train together and learn from their Bulgarian allies.“
During their visit to the Novo Selo Training Range On March 14, Lieutenant General Costanza participated in a ceremony honoring distinguished members of the NATO Multinational Battle Group, including Bulgarian service members, for their contributions to joint training and defense cooperation.
Commenting on his personal experience with the Bulgarian Armed Forces, he noted: “I have worked with the Bulgarian Armed Forces before becoming the commander of V Corps. In 2005, I was part of the US Forces in Germany, which was here to partner with the Bulgarian Army. I was part of the first American forces at the Novo Selo training range, where we conducted a joint live fire exercise with the US Army and the Bulgarian Air Force.“
He also emphasized the importance of Bulgaria's role in regional security, stating: “The establishment of a capable NATO battle group in Bulgaria is evidence of the determination of Bulgaria and our allies to share the responsibility for ensuring the security of NATO member states, while contributing to strengthening the deterrent and defensive potential of NATO's Eastern Flank.“ In order to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, in May, American forces based at the Novo Selo training range,“ will join Bulgarian Land Forces for Balkan Sentinel 2025 exercise.
Lieutenant General Costanza's visit underscores the long-standing military partnership between the United States and Bulgaria and the importance of continued cooperation to address regional security challenges.