Dimitar Stoyanov at NATO meeting in Brussels: Bulgaria plans 5% defense spending by 2030.

18.06.2026 | Foreign policy

Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov participated in a NATO meeting in Brussels. The main topics included the Alliance's defense capabilities and the plan to increase Bulgarian defense spending to 5% of GDP.

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Key meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels

Bulgaria's Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov is participating in the meeting of NATO member states' defense ministers, currently taking place in Brussels, Belgium. The forum is focused on discussing strategic decisions regarding the Alliance's deterrence potential.

"An ambitious plan has been prepared to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030," emphasized Minister Stoyanov.

Main agenda items:

Details on defense investments:

Minister Stoyanov specified the structure of future expenditures:

For comparison, last year expenditures were 2.13%, and they are expected to reach 2.15% of GDP this year.