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

Tomislav Donchev

Bulgaria can produce its own drones, Minister of Innovation says

A market study will soon be launched, followed by a competitive tender for Bulgarian developers to supply various types of drones for the Ministry of Defence. This announcement was made by Tomislav Donchev, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of..

published on 10/2/25 2:46 PM

Bulgarian national from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla was detained by Israel

A Bulgarian citizen, part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, is among those detained by Israel, according to a post on the official social media channel of the flotilla. The Israeli Navy intercepted boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla...

published on 10/2/25 2:05 PM

Police investigate murder threat against sister of arrested mayor of Varna

The police in Varna are investigating a threat against Bilyana Kotseva, sister of the city's mayor Blagomir Kotsev, the Bulgarian National Radio has reported. "Stay alive for your loved ones" is the message written on..

published on 10/2/25 11:35 AM