11.07.2023
As of today, the risk for the war to move from Ukraine to NATO member states is extremely low. The situation in the Western Balkans where there is a strong Russian influence is far more serious. “We must be aware that the dangers that we are referring to are largely to be attributed to one and the same cause,” Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov said at the end of the first day of the NATO Summit in Vilnius.
During the discussions, the allies supported Ukraine’s future NATO membership. For this to materialize, the NATO members must take a consequent decision. The candidate country shall not be a battlefield, Acad. Denkov recalled. There is a decision to skip one of the stages that each country goes through, in principle, as the Ukrainian army has already demonstrated “its high fighting viability.”
Bulgaria does not advocate the use of cluster munitions nor does it possess any. Regrettably, Russia is not a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and, what is more, has systematically used them in Syria and in the war against Ukraine, the Prime Minister said. This issue was not discussed at the Summit.
It was stated in Vilnius that for the first time in the post-Cold War period regional plans are being drawn up. “Forces will be deployed solely for defense and deterrence. No preparation is underway for any other operations,” said the Prime Minister as he commented on the regional plan for the Black Sea and the plans to enhance the battlegroup deployed in Bulgaria up to brigade size. In the context of the Russian aggression in Ukraine Bulgaria needs to upgrade its armed forces and is working to that end. Acad. Denkov noted the investment in additional armament: the F-16 fighter jets, the two multipurpose ships and the supply of armored infantry vehicles.
“It is important for us to upgrade our capability and to integrate it fully into the capabilities of the neighboring NATO countries,” the Prime Minister stated.
