NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska visited Bulgaria (7 and 8 September 2025). During bilateral meetings with President Radev, Prime Minister Jeliazkov, Defence Minister Zaprianov, and Interior Minister Mitov, Ms Shekerinska discussed NATO's priorities, as Allies implement decisions taken at the Summit in the Hague. She welcomed Bulgaria's commitment to spending 2 percent of GDP on defence this year, with the aim of reaching 5 percent of GDP by 2035. The Deputy Secretary General noted that raising defence spending is important across the Alliance, ensuring our armed forces have the resources they need. For Bulgaria, this includes modernising the armed forces with battle-winning tanks, fighter jets and patrol ships
During her visit to the troops at the Novo Selo Training Area, the Deputy Secretary General emphasised Bulgaria's contributions to NATO's defence and deterrence posture and important role for security in the Black Sea Region and beyond, including its hosting a NATO Multinational Battle Group. Ms Shekerinska underlined that this is NATO solidarity in action, on which the freedom and security of one billion people are built.
She also opened, alongside Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, Exercise BULGARIA 2025, co-organised by NATO's Euro Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) and the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. Taking place at the Professional Training Centre for first responders in Montana, Bulgaria, Exercise BULGARIA 2025 (7-12 September 2025) is one of the world's largest and most complex emergency exercises. It brings together soldiers, scientists, and first responders to improve disaster preparedness and save lives. "Keeping our citizens safe has been the primary mission of our Alliance for more than 70 years now. This includes managing together any type of crisis we may face. And exercises like this are a concrete way to translate the major political decisions of our leaders into practical steps that keep our people safe," the Deputy Secretary General said during the opening ceremony.
The Deputy Secretary General concluded her visit with a speech at the Atlantic Club, where she welcomed the rapid growth of Bulgaria's defence industry, which comprises multiple munitions and small arms manufacturers worth billions of euros. And highlighted NATO's efforts to address aggregated demands. She also thanked Bulgaria for its steadfast support for Ukraine as the peace talks progress towards a long-term solution. "Support by NATO Allies is especially focusing on air defence equipment, armoured vehicles, missiles, light weaponry, ammunition. And that's not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do," she said.
