Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Defence Minister Zakov: 2% of GDP for defence is insufficient, we need a higher percentage

Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov.
Photo: BGNES

The second batch of eight F-16 fighter jets could be delivered by 2027. This was said by Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov to the Defence Committee in Parliament. "We are still in talks with the American side. We have not yet reached the stage of negotiating a price offer. I expect that to happen sometime in June," he added.
The cost of the equipment that Bulgaria would have to buy is between 3 and 6.6 billion euros, Zakov said. 
2% of GDP would not be sufficient to cover the needs, so we should re-consider a higher percentage for defence, he said.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Yellow code for dangerous rainfall in 13 regions of northern and eastern Bulgaria

On Thursday morning the rain will stop. Minimum temperatures will be between 8 and 13°C, in Sofia - 9°C. During the day, before noon, the rain will resume - more intense in the north of the country, where there will be thunderstorms and conditions for..

published on 5/7/25 7:05 PM
Solemn performance of the European anthem during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, European Parliament, Strasbourg

Renew Europe calls for investigation of ties between MEPs of Bulgaria's Vazrazhdane party with United Russia

The agreement between Bulgaria's political party "Vazrazhdane" (Revival) and "United Russia" has raised questions and reactions, reaching the plenary hall of the European Parliament today . In addition to the Greens Group in the EP, Valérie Hayer, Chair..

published on 5/7/25 6:35 PM
Presidents Radev (L), Duda in Sofia, May 7 2025.

Andrzej Duda: NATO countries should allocate 3% of GDP to defence

Polish President Andrzej Duda, on an official visit to Bulgaria, discussed with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev Warsaw’s proposal that NATO member states allocate 3% of their gross domestic product to defence spending . He described the target as..

published on 5/7/25 4:15 PM