At a Bucharest-held summit of NATO the leaders of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe along with the Baltic states expressed in a declaration their concern over Russia’s aggressive behavior, voicing to the world their stance, demanding NATO’s permanent presence in the region. In his speech at the forum Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev added that the EU and NATO should view the South-East European region not as a periphery, but as the center of geopolitical interests and policies.

Concerns due to Russia’s growing military potential along the eastern flank of NATO have already been expressed and last summer the USA declared the temporary deployment of heavy military equipment in the region, in order to provide security. Special equipment for a brigade should be deployed in the Baltic states, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania in 2016. The dislocation of troops has not been mentioned yet, but probably the forum’s participants view NATO’s “permanent presence” in the area precisely in that way.

In fact Central and Eastern Europe is now subject of particular interest, shown not only on the part of NATO, but also by the EU. Some ten days before the Bucharest summit the EU spoke with leaders from the same region, but tackling migration pressure issues. The words of President Plevneliev about the periphery-treated region probably aimed at raising the attention in view of the Western Balkans. The president once again upheld the open doors policy of NATO with the hope that in December 2015 Montenegro shall see its membership invitation.

The Bulgarian head of state said that the opening of NATO coordination centers in Bulgaria and the other 5 states along the Eastern flank of the Alliance, along with the decision for the creation of such centers in Slovakia and Hungary were a major step towards the improving of defense capabilities. According to the head of state the limited financial resources imposed the implementation of the so-called intelligence defense projects – for instance, joint exploitation of jet fighters and pilots’ training with other NATO member-states from the region. That wish of the president coincided in time with the adoption of a draft bill for joint actions on the air space’s guarding. The change comes as a response to the recommendation made at the NATO Summit in Wales for the carrying out of joint missions for strengthening the air defense capabilities along the Alliance’s Eastern flank.

President Plevneliev reported progress in Bucharest, regarding the sensitive for everyone, but particularly for Bulgaria subject for the increasing of the defense budget. He announced that this country would increase it from the current 1.19 percent to 1.35 percent of GDP in 2016, assuring that the military expenses would be gradually pushed up, reaching 2 percent of GDP within a decade.

The NATO meeting in Bucharest also expressed concern, regarding Moscow’s military actions in Syria. The US and Russian Air Forces had joint military trainings just the day before, aiming to avoid dangerous rapprochement of jet fighters. A high-ranked Russian official commented that the cooperation with their American colleagues in Syria was successful.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev