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

Sunny but cooler weather

Friday will be mostly sunny but windy. Cloud cover will increase from the south-west in the afternoon, with rain spreading across most of the country in the evening and continuing overnight. Minimum temperatures will range between 7°C and 12°C, around..

published on 5/8/25 7:05 PM

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov: Bulgaria meets all criteria for the eurozone

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has highlighted the stability of public finances as a key element on the country's path to Eurozone membership. Speaking to Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia Region at the World Bank, Antonella Bassani,..

published on 5/8/25 6:12 PM

Law changes envisage emergency calls to 112 to be localized

The National Assembly has adopted important changes related to the National Emergency Call System - 112. They provide for the construction of a new generation of communication centers, which will be able to determine the exact location of people..

published on 5/8/25 5:38 PM