site.btaUS Congress Approves USD 40 Mln in Additional Financing for Bulgarian Military Modernization and Regional Defence

The United States Congress has approved nearly USD 40 million in additional Foreign Military Financing for Bulgaria, the US Embassy in Sofia said on its website Friday. "This funding is intended to assist in modernizing Bulgaria’s military, bolstering NATO collective defense efforts in the region, and building capabilities and interoperability in Bulgaria to deter and defend against the increased threats to the Alliance in a critical region," an Embassy statement reads.

It further says that Bulgaria has provided "valuable humanitarian support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion and has contributed greatly to collective defense by hosting a multi-national NATO battlegroup that is an important part of the Alliance’s deterrence and defense posture on its eastern flank". Bulgaria has also provided refuge to tens of thousands of displaced Ukrainians.

US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa is quoted as saying that her country and Bulgaria are "strategic security partners, and we are stronger together". "This new funding will speed key modernization efforts for the Bulgarian military, which are crucial to the NATO Alliance goals of increased interoperability and enhanced collective security."

The newly approved financing is part of a comprehensive assistance package, announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 8, to bolster the security of Ukraine and 17 of its neighbours, including Bulgaria, which are potentially at risk of future Russian aggression.