Karadjov: Strong Army, Strong State

Karadjov: Strong Army, Strong State

Bulgaria

At an international conference in Sofia on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov emphasized that a strong army and modern defence industry are vital for a strong state, CE Report quotes BTA

Speaking at the event titled New Realities in Foreign Policy, Defence and the Defence Industry, Karadjov stated, “Security is now a fragile necessity. Russian aggression in Ukraine has shattered illusions that peace in Europe can be built on compromises with autocratic regimes.”

He underlined that Bulgaria treats defence as a national priority, not just a technical matter. “We support Ukraine because we support peace, security, and freedom,” he said, adding that Bulgaria will continue to provide military and technical assistance.

Karadjov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s commitment to NATO, stressing the need for active participation and increased defence spending. “We’re not buying weapons for NATO — we’re equipping our army. Defence spending of 2.5–3% of GDP is essential,” he said.

He also advocated for European defence financing mechanisms, including a "budget buffer" initiative proposed by Bulgaria. “We aim to build an industry that creates jobs, exports, and drives innovation,” he concluded.

The conference gathered officials from Bulgaria, the EU, and NATO, along with defence and economic experts to discuss how foreign policy shifts are shaping defence and economic strategies globally.

Tags

Related articles

Banishment: Forgotten Histories Unveiled
As part of the Fotofabrika 2025 festival, the exhibition Banishment by Turkish photographers Behic Gunalan and Suleyman Akman will open on June 3 at the National Reconciliation Exposition in Sofia’s South Park.
Pavel Poppandov Honored at Golden Linden
Renowned Bulgarian actor Pavel Poppandov will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Golden Linden Film Festival, announced festival founder and director Magdalena Ralcheva.
Sofia Transport Strike Ends
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) announced the end of a six-day blockade of Sofia's surface public transport. Operations will resume on Tuesday.
Dimitrov Falls, Donski Rises
Grigor Dimitrov fell one spot to No. 16 in the ATP rankings after a second-round loss to Francesco Passaro in Rome.
EU Hopeful on Bulgaria’s Euro Bid
EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis expressed cautious optimism about Bulgaria joining the euro area in 2025.
Bulgaria Stabilizes Regional Grid
Bulgaria has demonstrated its role as a regional energy security guarantor, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov announced at a briefing following recent power outages in neighboring countries.
Museum Night in Bulgaria
Cultural venues in 25 regions across Bulgaria stayed open late on Saturday for the 21st European Night of Museums.
Museum Workers Demand Better Pay
Museum and gallery workers across Bulgaria staged a symbolic protest on Saturday, calling for a gradual wage increase to 125% of the national average salary.
Karadjov Backs PPPs for Infrastructure
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov is advocating for a new strategy to revive Bulgaria’s stalled infrastructure projects by expanding the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Bulgaria Delays Power Market Reform
Bulgaria’s National Assembly has officially postponed the liberalization of the electricity market for household consumers, originally planned for July 1, 2025.
Radev Challenges Euro Referendum Block in Court
President Rumen Radev will petition Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court over the National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova’s rejection of his proposal for a national referendum on adopting the euro.