The perspective in 2026, from the point of view of what was achieved in 2025, is very good, but the political crisis we are entering and the lack of a budget necessitate a halt to the modernization of the army until a new budget is adopted, said the outgoing Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov. He attended the traditional water blessing of the battle flags, flags, and holy banners of the Bulgarian army.
Zapryanov added that last year 24 competitions were held and 1300 people were accepted into service, with a total of 1500 expected to be appointed.
The national plan is with the European Commission and the feedback is that our nine projects will be approved, and we are waiting for the council to propose a loan agreement for 3 billion and 260 million in February. In the conditions of a political crisis and an extended budget, in which loans cannot be made, it means that the elections will have to pass, a government and parliament will have to be elected to approve the loans, the outgoing minister added. He noted that what was achieved in 2025 gave the opportunity to continue the modernization of the army, but under these conditions the Ministry of Defense and the defense sector will have to wait.
In a year, from 28% incomplete staffing, we have reduced by 4.3% in soldiers, and by 2% overall for the army, but in the conditions of an extended budget, no money is provided either for hiring military personnel or for continuing modernization, Zapryanov also said.
We are working with a specific goal – by 2030, the Bulgarian army to occupy a worthy place in the military balance of forces on a regional scale. I hope this inertia will continue and that statesmanship will be found, said the Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov.