Defence Minister: Bulgaria expects by October 30 to join Nato’s initiative to counter drone threats

Bulgaria expects to join Nato’s initiative to counter drone threats by October 30, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told Parliament on October 14.

Stoyanov was speaking during a hearing on the drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea and the arson of Starlink antennas near Sofia, and was replying to a question from Movement for Rights and Freedoms MP Hamid Hamid about the country’s participation in an allied program for anti-aircraft and anti-drone defense:

“Bulgaria has not left, it has not joined, but it has not joined since 2025,” Stoyanov said.

“We took these steps to study and see what the possibility is and how much it will cost us and whether the budget can allow it,” he said.

“We received information about how much the contribution is, and it is 220 000 euro a year,” Stoyanov said.

“In spite of everything, the estimates that we from the Ministry of Defence have are that with this amount we can allow this thing and Bulgaria will be part of this project as soon as possible. The expectations are that by October 30, we will already be part of the project.”

Stoyanov said that he had never said that Bulgaria would withdraw from the Drone Edge initiative.

“Bulgaria is in the Drone Edge initiative. It is participating and has announced its participation with 80 million euro in the project to acquire 20 systems, 10 mobile and 10 stationary, under the SAFE mechanism , and at any moment we are expected to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with Spain for the joint acquisition of these systems,” he said.

(Photo of Stoyanov: Ministry of Defence)