Bulgaria's President opened the 16th Annual Conference of Chiefs of Defence of Balkan Countries

"Russia's aggression against Ukraine has led to dramatic changes in the international security environment. The security architecture in Europe, built over decades, is in decay, and this could lead to problems in the Balkan region, which is neighbouring the conflict," President Rumen Radev said on May 18 at the 16th annual conference of the Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan Countries.

The conference is chaired by Bulgareia’s Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov.

The meeting is attended by the Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan countries, the Chairman of the EU Military Committee Gen. Robert Briger and the Deputy Commander of the NATO Joint Command in Naples, Lieutenant General Stephen Kelsey.

According to the President, the Balkans is an area historically perceived as a source of conflict and tension, and the countries of the region should work to strengthen collective defence through measures to enhance military cooperation, dialogue and trust. A unified political vision is needed to ensure security in the region, Radev further said.

"The war in Ukraine has proved beyond doubt that connectivity and logistics are key to military operations. While amateurs deal with tactics, professionals deal with logistics, the President said, calling for comprehensive connectivity in all spheres - energy, digital, transport."

Radev also pointed out that Bulgaria is working for energy connectivity as the foundation of our economy, on which our defence depends.

"Bulgaria is working not only for energy diversification, but we are doing our best to work for the neighbouring countries as well - gas for Serbia and Hungary continues to pass through Turkey and Bulgaria. We have completed the terminal with Greece, we have access to the terminals of Greece and Turkey. The interconnector with Romania is operating at full capacity. The connection with Macedonia is in place. The interconnector with Serbia will be completed this year," the President said.

Caretaker Minister of Defence, Dimitar Stoyanov, voiced the military expertise's concern and anxiety over Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine.