President Rumen Radev meets today with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as part of his two-day official visit to the Federal Republic. The high-level meeting, held under heightened security measures, will be an opportunity to deepen the strategic dialogue between Sofia and Berlin.
The official meeting of the two heads of state is taking place at the historic _Bellevue_ Palace in the heart of Berlin. The palace, which serves as the residence of the German President, is the site of key diplomatic talks and events. The _one-on-one_ meeting is expected to focus on future prospects for economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany, discussing ways to expand the partnership in key sectors.
This is another meeting between Radev and Steinmeier, who maintain constant contact. The two presidents held a conversation in Berlin in May 2022, which was a continuation of Steinmeier's official visit to Bulgaria in April 2019. This visit then was at the invitation of the Bulgarian head of state and underscored the long-standing ties and mutual interest in cooperation.
President Radev's visit to Germany began yesterday with his participation in the solemn opening of a high-tech ammunition factory. The plant, owned by the German arms concern _Rheinmetall_, is located in the state of Lower Saxony and represents an important strategic project for the defense industry.
The participation of the Bulgarian president in this event is directly related to _Rheinmetall's_ ambitious plans to expand its activities into Bulgarian territory. The German concern intends to invest together with the Bulgarian government in the construction of two new factories in Bulgaria. The first will specialize in the production of shells, and the second - of gunpowder. The scale of the project is significant, with the expected investment size exceeding 1 billion euros. This is seen as a potential stimulus for the Bulgarian economy and as a step towards strengthening the country's defense capabilities in the context of an increasingly complex geopolitical situation.