Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov dismissed US President Donald Trump’s demand for NATO members to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Speaking at a meeting of EU leaders, the UK, and NATO’s secretary general on Monday, Zhelyazkov emphasised that Bulgaria had already exceeded EU defence spending targets, reaching 3% of GDP in 2019 with the purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
A significant number of NATO countries do not reach 2% defence spending, so it is still too early to talk about a new increase.
He noted that Bulgaria’s military budget for 2024 stood at 2.2% of GDP, approximately $2.4 billion, with plans to reach 2.5% in the next three years through major equipment purchases.
Bulgaria is in the midst of a decades-long effort to modernise its military, which still relies on outdated Soviet-era equipment. Over the past six years, Sofia has signed deals worth over $3 billion for American military hardware, including F-16 jets and armoured vehicles.
German companies have also made inroads, securing contracts for combat frigates and an IRIS-T SLM air defence system.
Zhelyazkov’s remarks highlight the challenges faced by smaller NATO members in balancing defence commitments with economic realities. While Bulgaria remains committed to modernising its armed forces, it is unlikely to meet Trump’s call for a sharp rise in military expenditure in the near term.
