The Bulgarian defense budget is BGN 800 million larger this year compared to last, and next year it will be BGN 800 million bigger than this year. This was stated by the Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev.
These expenditures cover the three major military projects for the Air Force, the Army, and the Navy. These are very large projects that will take years to pay off. BGN 9 billion have already been pledged for these three major projects, the Minister of Defense explained to BNT.
He indicated that in the first quarter of 2025 the F-16 aircraft should arrive, and from mid-2025 the Stryker armored vehicles will also begin to arrive. "We will see the Bulgarian army transformed in a short time," said Tagarev.
According to him, we should invest in anti-aircraft missile complexes, in coastal missile complexes. "We will also launch smaller projects related to the purchase and production of drones," he added.
Tagarev said that because of Russia's war against Ukraine, the threat to Bulgaria remains, although attention has recently shifted to Gaza. He specified that the threats are related to freedom of navigation, sea mines, drones, etc. "Risks remain for us, but that is not our big problem. If Russia prevails in this war, only a few years will pass and it will continue its aggressive policy. Therefore, our strategic interest is for Ukraine to win," Minister Tagarev explained.
Regarding the situation at the front, he pointed out that very heavy fighting is going on, every day 1000 people die on one side, we don't know how many are on the other side, there are no territorial changes. "Ukraine cannot move forward because it has no aviation. In this situation, it is difficult to talk about a counter-offensive," added Minister Tagarev.
On the current topic of the Monument to the Soviet Army and its removal, he emphasized that monument is not the correct name. Regarding the threats from Russia, and more specifically about the spokesperson of the Russian MFA, Maria Zakharova Tagarev only noted that this is her job. “But the removal is our decision. It is up to us to decide what to do with this composition in the center of Sofia, its place is in some museum," said Tagarev.
He called it a very strange idea to invite the Russian ambassador for an interview.
"I would hardly have imagined in 1940 that the BBC would have broadcast an interview with the German ambassador. I don't see the need for what the country that has declared us an enemy says," said Tagarev. /BGNES
