Bulgarian Cabinet approves national defence strategy
Bulgaria’s Cabinet adopted on April 13 a national defence strategy, based on a mid-term review in 2015 of a strategy document dating from four years before.
The main changes in the document relate to the “altered strategic environment and security consequences,” a Cabinet statement said.
In analysing the security environment, new risks and threats were considered, including those of a hybrid nature, the statement said.
The strategy “harmonises” the tasks of the armed forces in line with Bulgaria’s commitments to Nato. Recognition is given to the fact that success in the fight against hybrid threats will depend on “synergies” between national defence plans and those of Nato.
The document analysed defence resources – human, information, material and financial, the statement said. It reported a highly limited budget and a balance between resource allocation and the requirements of the country’s defence capabilities.
The document says that a comprehensive approach in crisis management and conflict becomes extremely necessary for successfully countering hybrid forms of warfare.
The key is the synchronisation of the actions of the armed forces with all governmental and non-governmental organisations and structures within a single strategy and plan.
The defence of the country will be carried out within and through implementing mechanisms of Nato collective defence and the European Union’s common security and defence policy, and through effective use of national defence capabilities.
The document says that there are three missions – defence, support of international peace and security and contribution to national security in peacetime, with tasks related to each.
It says that the structure and size of the armed forces are closely related to the necessary operational capabilities specified in defence planning.
Bulgaria is building and developing its armed forces as a single complex of force and balanced capabilities, with a unified system of command and control for times of peace and in crises.
The document says that the peacetime military is a professional one, with a voluntary reserve developed to add personnel and equipment.
It is envisaged that in 2020, the national defence strategy will be fully examined and re-issued, the statement said.
