Bulgaria and the United Kingdom are set to deepen cooperation in defense industry development, security policy, and Black Sea stability, following talks between Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and British Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty, according to BGNES.
Stoyanov described the United Kingdom as “an important ally of Bulgaria in NATO and our key partner in Europe,” stressing that both countries have strong prospects for expanding cooperation in defense capabilities, training, and industrial production. He underlined that the two sides already maintain effective channels for coordination and see further potential for structured partnership in the sector.
A central focus of the meeting was security in the Black Sea region, where Stoyanov said stability remains a strategic priority. He highlighted ongoing regional cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey within the Mine Countermeasures Naval Task Force, which operates on a rotating basis to secure maritime routes and ensure freedom of navigation. He also noted that the initiative remains open to participation from additional allied navies.
Defense modernization was another key topic, with Stoyanov pointing out that Bulgaria continues to gradually increase its defense spending in line with NATO commitments. He stated that military expenditure reached 2.13% of GDP last year, with plans for further increases, while also meeting the alliance target of allocating at least 20% of defense spending to modernization and capital investment projects.
