Greece to shift Patriot missile system, F-16s, to aid protection of Bulgaria’s air space

Greece will transfer within the next few hours a Patriot missile defence system to the northern part of the country to aid in the protection of Bulgarian air space, Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias said on March 6, according to a statement on the ministry’s website.

Dendias made the announcement after speaking to his Bulgarian counterpart, Atanas Zapryanov.

“Following a relevant request from the Bulgarian side yesterday, I was able to inform him today that Greece will provide means and personnel for the protection of Bulgaria,” Dendias said.

“A Patriot battery is being transferred, within the next few hours, to a suitable area, within the northern part of Greek territory, for anti-ballistic coverage of a large part of the territory of Bulgaria.

Also, a pair of F-16s are repositioning to an airport in northern Greece, with the exclusive mission of providing additional coverage to Bulgaria.

Additionally, for effective coordination, two senior Air Force officers are being sent to the Operations Centre of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, in Sofia, Dendias said.

“I want to make it clear that the above actions were taken at the request of Bulgaria, a member country of Nato and the EU, and do not in the least affect the possibility of anti-ballistic protection of Greek territory,” he said.

Dendias said that at the invitation of Zapryanov, he would visit Sofia next week.

The conversation between Dendias and Zapryanov follows an incident earlier this week in which a missile launched by Iran was brought down by Nato defences in Türkiye.

Currently, the protection of Bulgaria’s air space is assisted by missile batteries in Romania and Türkiye.

Bulgaria’s Air Force has ageing Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, and the country has begun to take delivery of US-made F-16s, though the status of future deliveries of the F-16s currently is not clear.

A March 6 statement by Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry said that Zapryanov had held a telephone conversation with the Minister of National Defence of Türkiye Yaşar Güler on March 4.

The conversation discussed the situation in the Middle East and the possible risks for the region.

Deep concern was expressed about the development of the military conflict. The two ministers maintain the position that the escalation must be stopped and efforts to achieve peace must be supported, the Defence Ministry said.

Bulgaria supports the position that Iran must terminate its nuclear programme, which is a threat to international peace and security, the statement said.

Zapryanov condemned Iran’s missile attack in the air space of Türkiye on March 4 and said that such an attack was not provoked by anything and is dangerous in view of expanding the conflict.

Zapryanov and Güler expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation and coordination between military authorities to ensure security within the framework of collective defence in Nato and in a regional format, the Defence Ministry said.

(Photo, of a Patriot missile system deployed in Türkiye: US Department of Defence)