Bulgaria asks NATO for combat aircraft and air defence systems

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the country has written to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte requesting support to strengthen its defence capacity. Speaking to journalists in Sofia on the anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian Air Force, Stoyanov said the aim is to secure the country’s airspace and territorial waters and to demonstrate its military presence.

Stoyanov said: “We sent letters to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and made requests to strengthen our defence capacity.” He said Bulgaria requested both aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems, systems to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, and air patrol support. “We asked for all possible support options,” he added.

Stoyanov noted that Romania and the Baltic states have similar needs. He stressed that even the deployment of allied forces and military units in the region cannot fully guarantee security in the Black Sea.