Bulgaria confirms the commitment that was unanimously adopted at the NATO Summit to reach 5% of GDP in defense spending for each allied country by 2035. Our country is in the process of transforming its defense capabilities and will develop its defense industry, so we will purposefully invest in this direction. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov after the end of the Hague Summit.
The Prime Minister pointed out that of the planned higher share for defense, 3.5% will be actual defense spending, and 1.5% is planned for additional defense-related spending, such as investments, technologies, transfer of know-how, dual-purpose infrastructure. There are no annual tasks, the important thing is to achieve the goal by 2035, Zhelyazkov also noted. Along with the budgetary possibilities, the Prime Minister emphasized in particular the potential of the European Security and Defense Instrument SAFE, from which our country can also benefit.
The Prime Minister indicated that a national defense investment plan will be prepared, which will go through all approval procedures. The Prime Minister refuted concerns that defense spending will be at the expense of other key sectors. In the national plan, everything will be written down, without moving on to such exotic ideas, said Zhelyazkov. According to him, expenses cannot be a cause for concern, but only the lack of income. A functioning economy must always guarantee growth and an increase in the Gross Domestic Product, the Prime Minister recalled.
The Prime Minister was categorical that it is important for NATO to expand its defense capabilities in order to refrain from aggressive behavior towards the Alliance, as well as towards each of the countries that are members of it. NATO is stronger and more united, with the leadership of the United States it looks much stronger than it seemed at the beginning of this year, added Zhelyazkov. The Prime Minister also highlighted the important role of NATO in the Western Balkans, where Russia's harmful and hybrid efforts find fertile ground, as evidenced by the behavior of some of the countries in the region.
In response to a journalist's question, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov noted that yesterday in The Hague he had held talks with the heads of delegations, including the President of the Republic of North Macedonia. We had a very good conversation with her - we talked about human rights, about European values, about the fact that the language used by officials representing the countries should instill friendship, not hatred, said Zhelyazkov and added - in my opinion, the goal of our friends from North Macedonia is not to take over Babylon, but to enter the European Union, which happens by fulfilling the membership criteria. Prime Minister Zhelyazkov emphasized the protection of the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia and their inclusion in the Constitution, which is a condition for the start of negotiations.