Bulgaria’s caretaker Defence Minister: Russian-Ukrainian war, Israeli-US operation in Iran have led to destabilisation of our region

Russia’s war against Ukraine and the operation carried out by Israel and the United States in Iran have led to the destabilisation of our region, Bulgaria’s caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on March 12 at a joint news conference with Greek Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Dendias.

Iran’s unprovoked attacks on Cyprus are of serious concern, Zapryanov said.

“We note that we are seriously concerned by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, which is destabilising the situation in Europe,” he said. “We also noted that the operation carried out by Israel and the US in Iran has also led to the destabilisation of our region.”

Zapryanov said that both Bulgaria and Greece continue to support Ukraine through Nato, the EU, and bilaterally.

He expressed gratitude to Dendias, who was visiting Sofia at Zapryanov’s invitation, to agreeing to his request last week for Greece to help strengthen the security of Bulgaria’s airspace through a Patriot missile battery, noting that the request was responded to very quickly.

Dendias said: “It was our duty to respond to Bulgaria’s request to support it in the threats it faces as a result of the war in Iran”.

“I am happy and proud that a Greek Patriot battery covers a large part of Bulgaria’s airspace, as well as that a pair of F-16 fighter jets protect the entire airspace from possible threats,” Dendias said.

“We have also sent two officers to coordinate our relations with the Bulgarian operations control centre,” he said.

Earlier, the two held talks on current issues of bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece in the field of defence, the challenges facing the region as a result of the war in Ukraine and the war in Iran, military mobility and the SAFE Mechanism of the European Union, a statement by Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry said.

The two ministers discussed current issues related to regional security and cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece within Nato and the EU.

Zapryanov also expressed gratitude for the contribution of the Greek Armed Forces to the Nato Multinational Battle Group, located in Bulgaria.

The role, importance and contribution of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Greece to increasing the security of the Eastern flank of the Alliance were emphasised, the Defence Ministry statement said.

During the bilateral talks, the importance of expanding the infrastructure between the two countries was emphasised, which plays a key role in developing the effectiveness of military mobility, the statement said.

In addition to the purely practical military aspects, infrastructure contributes significantly to improving the development of economic ties between the two countries.

Zapryanov briefed Dendias on Bulgaria’s priority modernisation projects for the development of combat capabilities, with which Bulgaria has applied to the European Commission for funding under the SAFE mechanism.

(Photo, of Dendias, left, and Zapryanov: Ministry of Defence)