The Head of State holds a meeting with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO at the US Department of Defense

 

The delivery of the F-16 fighter jets is just the beginning of the political commitment to the logistics, maintenance and building of real defence capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force. This was stated by the Head of State Rumen Radev at a meeting at the presidential institution with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO at the US Department of Defense, David Baker, who is visiting our country ?? mark the delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet for the Bulgarian Air Force. The meeting was also attended by the US Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Susan Falatko.

 

By the end of the year, Bulgaria expects to receive the first eight F-16 fighter jets and is looking forward to receiving the remaining eight as soon as possible to form a full-fledged squadron, Rumen Radev said during the meeting. In order to be successful in operating the new F-16 aircraft, Bulgaria must have sufficiently well prepared military pilots for them, the president said and raised the issue of optimising the training program for Bulgarian military pilots in cooperation with the United States. According to the head of state, if part of the training process is carried out in Bulgaria and in other countries in the region, this would allow for the training of a larger number of pilots and would contribute to regional cooperation in the field of defence.

 

According to the plans and contracts for the modernisation of our Armed Forces, the first deliveries of the Stryker combat vehicles for the Land Forces are expected by the end of 2025. The President highlighted the key importance of the fact that a significant part of them will be assembled in Bulgaria, which should be established as an approach to the modernisation of our Armed Forces, so that it is accompanied by increasing industrial cooperation and the inclusion of the Bulgarian defence industry and science in this process.

 

Bulgaria is developing its defence capabilities in such a way that it is responsible for its defence and security, instead of relying only on allies, Rumen Radev emphasised. The head of state also highlighted our country's ambitions for the introduction of new, already proven, technologies in the process of modernisation of the Armed Forces, including unmanned aerial vehicles and their production in our country, which also opens up prospects for deepening the partnership with the United States.

 

During the meeting, the Bulgarian head of state also stressed that the military crises in neighbouring regions represent a major threat to the security and stability of our region, and their secondary effect severely affects the economies and social systems of neighbouring countries. Rumen Radev highlighted the importance of developing Bulgaria's defence potential and the strategic partnership with the United States for strengthening stability in the Balkans and limiting the negative effects of these crises for the region. In this regard, President Rumen Radev also praised the efforts of US President Donald Trump and his administration to end as soon as possible the war in Ukraine, which is the main threat to peace and security in Europe.