Bulgaria Will Expand Strategic Partnership With US in Defense, Energy, and Trade
President Donald J. Trump welcomed Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of the Republic of Bulgaria to the ..
President Donald J. Trump welcomed Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of the Republic of Bulgaria to the White House on Nov. 25, 2019, to celebrate the strong and enduring relationship that exists between the two nations. The talks between the two leaders focused on security and defense issues and energy diversification.
Borissov led an official delegation that included members of his cabinet. Both countries decided to expand and enhance their strategic partnerships.
Security and Defense Cooperation
Bulgaria needs to modernize its military forces. To achieve that goal, Bulgaria, as a NATO member, must fulfill the defense spending pledge that requires each NATO ally to spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense, according to the agreement made by all NATO allies in 2014.
A study conducted by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in December 2018 shows that Bulgarias military spending was the highest in 2007 since the end of the Cold War, reaching 2.3 percent of its GDP. However, that expenditure was subsequently reduced, and in the years 2011-2017, it varied between 1.3 and 1.6 percent.
Military spending was reduced as a result of Borissovs policy. In 2011 Borissov was prime minister. He prioritized the countrys economic growth and other expenditure over military spending “butter before guns.”
In 2014 Bulgaria was not able to pay its NATO fee or a bill for aircraft repair. The country planned then to gradually increase its defense spending to reach 2 percent of the GDP in 2020. However, this plan was not realistic and the target date to achieve the goal of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense was adjusted to 2024, as stated in the Joint Statement issued during the Bulgarian visit to the U.S. on Nov. 25.
During the visit, both countries laid out a 10-year roadmap to facilitate efforts leading to modernizing Bulgarias military with access to “advanced U.S. defense technology,” as well as expanding military exercises, training, and interoperability, according to the Joint Statement.
Bulgaria also offered to coordinate maritime operations on the Black Sea to support NATOs Forward Presence Initiative and enhance the security of the region. The offer was welcomed by the United States.
Energy Security
Bulgaria has been transforming from a gas transitioning country into a gas distribution center. Its goal is to “become a true gas hub and a key source of regional energy security, free of monopolists, foreign or domestic, and operating on market principles. U.S. experience can help Bulgaria create a truly dynamic energy market,” says the Joint Statement.
Bulgarias gas supplies are currently dominated by Russian state-owned Gazprom and can be diversified by taking advantage of “of secure and affordable gas offered by U.S. liquefied natural gas (Read More – Source