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

President and defence minister agree more money needed for defence

Photo: FB/Rumen Radev

An analysis of the state and preparedness of the armed forces in 2024 was presented during the Chief of Defence Annual Conference in Sofia.

In their statements at the event, both President Rumen Radev and Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov agreed that the Bulgarian army needs more financing. Minister Zapryanov stated that at the NATO summit in The Hague it will be made clear whether we need to spend 2.5% or 3% of the GDP on defence. The speakers focused on one of the problems – the levels of understaffing within the armed force which jeopardizes their preparedness. Recruiting personnel for the land forces will be a priority in 2025. Military training at schools is something we need to consider as a solution to the problem of the understaffing, said President Radev. Minister Zapryanov explained that the issue is not part of the government’s governance programme but that the respective ministries are discussing it. 



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

Weather forecast: Temperatures rise to 34° C.

During the night skies will be clear and tomorrow will be sunny, with cumulus clouds gathering in the afternoon over Eastern Bulgaria. There will be a light wind from the North-Northwest. Daytime temperatures will rise to reach a maximum of 29-34°..

published on 6/15/25 6:10 PM
Zhecho Stankov

Big financial funds ready to finance Bulgaria’s energy sector, energy minister says

Just a week after receiving the positive convergence reports on Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone, all major financial funds have stated their readiness for the profitable financing of Bulgaria’s energy industry, said Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov..

published on 6/15/25 3:22 PM
Ljupco Georgievski

Protest in front of North Macedonia embassy in support of Ljupco Georgievski

A protest in support of the chairman of the Bulgarian club in Bitola Ivan Mihaylov, which was closed, Ljupco Georgievski, who was sentenced to a suspended term of one year of imprisonment, with a 2-year probation period, took place in front of the..

published on 6/15/25 3:10 PM