Bulgaria to increase defense spending up to 5% of GDP

A Bulgarian delegation, led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, will participate in the NATO summit focusing on defense and deterrence plans, which starts tomorrow in The Hague. Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov is also part of the delegation.

On the eve of the meeting, Zapryanov told journalists that Bulgaria would increase defense spending to 5% of its gross domestic product, reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova informed.

"There is a decision of the Council of Ministers, which sets a mandate for the talks. We and all NATO countries support the proposal made by the US for military spending of 3.5% of GDP for capabilities plus 1.5% for infrastructure and other supplies related to military capabilities. This will happen not by 2032, but by 2035. We would wait for the decision of state and government."