Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that drones are now deciding the outcome of battle. They have become a key tool for deterring a stronger adversary, isolating the combat zone and supplying troops. He made the remarks on September 23, 2026, while watching a demonstration of unmanned systems at the "Slivnitsa" military training ground. According to Radev, over the past two years the army has taken a major step forward in its modernization.
According to the prime minister, drone capabilities cannot be built simply by purchasing equipment — serious training of operators is also required. Radev noted that the country has capable servicemen, commanders and leaders with vision, as well as a domestic industry able to produce such systems for the army's needs.
The strike drones shown at the training ground are only part of the picture, the prime minister added. He said the army must simultaneously develop capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, communication, command, targeting and strike missions. "We need many drones of different types and ranges. We must have reconnaissance drones, communication drones and mobile centers capable of controlling all these assets in the air. We must also have interceptor drones to counter strike unmanned systems," Radev said.
The development of these capabilities is proceeding alongside the overall modernization of the Land Forces, the prime minister explained. Organizational and staffing changes have already been made — specific servicemen now have drone training and operations as their primary task. Radev noted that the acquisition of self-propelled howitzers is moving forward hand in hand with the buildup of drone capabilities — the two complement the overall defense picture. "The Ministry of Defense already has an armament plan in place. We must do everything possible to support this ambitious and comprehensive program so that the Bulgarian Army has the capabilities it needs," he said.
The prime minister said he expects defense spending in the 2027 budget to increase, despite the difficult fiscal situation and the country's need to reduce its deficit. He cited changes in the security environment, the army's need to develop its capabilities, and Bulgaria's commitments as an ally. Radev said the country must unequivocally invest in its armed forces. Various options for increasing the budget are currently under discussion, but the final percentage for 2027 has not yet been set.
The prime minister also reiterated the long-term goal of raising defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, expressing hope that this could happen even sooner. The pace, he said, will depend on the development of the Bulgarian economy, its productivity and the possibility of faster growth.
Radev also responded to a separate question about the recall of Bulgaria's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Yordanov, who was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 23, 2026. He said he expects the procedure to be completed as quickly as possible and the instructions he has given to be carried out. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take the necessary steps through the established procedure, while institutions continue to gather information and clarify the circumstances of the case, the prime minister explained. The checks, he said, cover both specific individuals and the businesses, assets, properties and activities linked to them abroad.
"Only now are many things starting to unravel, and I hope we will move at a much faster pace," Radev said. He noted that Bulgarian institutions are working together with partner services to establish the connections between individuals and activities, as well as between businesses, assets and properties abroad. "It's happening slowly, it's happening with difficulty, but as you can see, it's already starting to come together," the prime minister added.