site.btaUPDATED Sofia Thanks Washington for Agreeing to Reinforce Bulgarian-Led Battlegroup

Emerging from a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Sofia on Saturday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov thanked the US for becoming the first nation to respond to Bulgaria's request to reinforce a battlegroup in which Bulgaria is the lead country. Washington agreed to commit a Stryker company, Petkov specified as a joint news briefing with Austin. The Prime Minister added that he will propose to place a Bulgarian in command of that company.

"The war started by Vladimir Putin has put all of Europe at risk," Petkov commented. "No country can afford the illusion of complete security. No one can defend themselves alone. Bulgaria's security is in NATO collective defence. We are NATO."

The Pentagon chief is in Bulgaria on Friday and Saturday as part of a European tour. On Friday, he travelled to the Novo Selo Training Area and the Bezmer Air Base, both in the southeast of the country.

Speaking at the joint news briefing with Prime Minister Petkov, Secretary Austin underscored the importance of the announcement that Bulgaria has established and is leading a NATO multinational battlegroup. "It is an important step and we fully support it. We commend Bulgaria for its leadership," he said.

Austin noted: "Improving Bulgaria's military readiness and NATO interoperability is even more vital today as Europe faces its largest security challenge in generations. So the United States will continue to stand strong with Bulgaria and our other NATO Allies. We will continue to work together for lasting peace and security in Europe."

The guest condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine which has claimed the lives of both military and civilian people. He commended Bulgaria's efforts to take Ukrainian refugees and to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

According to Austin, his discussion with Petkov focused on bolstering NATO's eastern flank and improving Allied interoperability.