Security in the Black Sea and NATO: Velislava Petrova on modernization and innovation

29.05.2026 | Domestic policy

Minister Velislava Petrova discussed the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank and the role of innovation in defense at a conference in Sofia. See the highlights.

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Strengthening NATO's Eastern Flank

Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova took part in the conference "Why We Fight: Defense and Dialogue for Democracy," organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy. The focus of the discussion was security in the Black Sea region.

"The security environment is becoming increasingly dynamic and complex, with growing risks to critical infrastructure," Petrova emphasized.

Innovation as a Key to Security

The Minister highlighted the role of dual-use technologies and Bulgaria's participation in NATO's DIANA ecosystem. According to her, R&D activity is fundamental not only for defense but also for the competitiveness of the economy.

Dialogue with Romania

During the event, Velislava Petrova held a meeting with the National Security Advisor to the President of Romania, Marius-Gabriel Lazurca. The main focus was cooperation in the Black Sea region and solidarity following the incident involving a Russian drone on Romanian territory.