The Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov and David Baker, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for NATO and European Affairs, gave a high assessment of the bilateral military and strategic cooperation between Bulgaria and the United States during a meeting held in Sofia today, April 11. David Baker is on a visit to our country, during which he will take part in the welcoming ceremony of the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 fighter from the squadron of new-type combat aircraft, which our Air Force will acquire by the end of 2027 in implementation of the two contracts signed in 2019. and 2022.
The main focus of the talks was on the modernization projects of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, which are being implemented mainly with the assistance of the US government and with the participation of US companies, and the progress achieved so far in the implementation of the contracts for the acquisition of F-16 Block 70 aircraft and “Stryker“ combat vehicles was discussed. The annual joint exercises and trainings that are held on the territory of the Bulgarian-US facilities were also in the focus of the discussions. The two sides stressed the importance of successful cooperation in the field of defense and stated their commitment to continuing the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the US.
During the meeting, security issues in the Black Sea region were discussed with a focus on the activation of the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea), formed by Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania and open to the participation of NATO member states. Among the main topics of the talks were the increase in defense spending, the prospects for the defense industry in the context of the discussed European rearmament initiatives, the construction of harmonized military mobility corridors on the Eastern flank of the Alliance, support for Ukraine and the efforts of the international community to achieve a lasting and just peace.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Defense Minister Adelina Nikolova, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, Susan Falatko - Acting Director of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, and Defense Attaché Colonel Paul Siebold.