The strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank after Putin’s military aggression against Ukraine has opened up opportunities for Bulgaria to compensate for the backwardness in the defense sector, which, however, it has not yet effectively taken advantage of.
20 years after we joined NATO, we remain one of the weakest points in the Alliance, and proof of this was the debate surrounding the reception of the international battle group on our territory. Despite the opposition of President Rumen Radev and the pro-Russian parties, this became a fact, and the plans are to upgrade it to a brigade.
But while the construction of the largest NATO base in Europe for 10,000 military personnel has already begun in Romania, Bulgaria is very far from preparing the necessary infrastructure to host the NATO brigade.
A Mediapool check showed that the process is significantly delayed and again reveals systemic weaknesses, reflecting the division in Bulgarian society along NATO-Russia lines and making us an easy target for hybrid attacks.
Bulgaria must provide an opportunity to accommodate the brigade in the “Kabile” military region near Yambol, but the work on the infrastructure is at an initial stage.
Pro-Rural parties are preparing a referendum against the location of the base in the area, while the multinational group, led by Italy, is preparing to settle in a tent camp.
Bulgaria also misses the opportunity to provide more serious support to Ukraine and at the same time to get rid of old Soviet weapons and ammunition. Bulgaria has already dropped the so-called triangular deals, in which he could receive new armaments in return for aid to Ukraine, also misses the opportunity to receive compensation from the so-called “European Peace Instrument” for old ammunition.
According to information from Mediapool, about 70% of the ammunition in the army has an expiring resource, and very soon Bulgaria will have to pay for its use.
Referendum and serious delay
The most serious challenge is for Bulgaria to prepare the base for the accommodation of the NATO brigade. Mediapool sources from the Ministry of Defense commented that the process cannot be stopped by a local referendum, as the issue concerns national security.
That is why other options are not considered.
In response to questions about the Access to Public Information Act (APIA), the MoD explained that the current plans are for the base to be ready by the end of 2027.
However, almost nothing has been done yet, although the original deadline for the completion of the infrastructure was 2024.
By NATO standards, a battalion battle group is about 1,300 soldiers, and a brigade about 5,000, or 4 times as many. In practice, there are several battalions in the brigade.
In addition to Italy, the battle group includes Bulgaria with a maneuver company, a military police team and servicemen at the headquarters, the USA with a maneuver company, Montenegro with a light infantry platoon, a military police team and a serviceman at the headquarters, Greece with an anti-tank platoon and a serviceman at the headquarters, Albania with a light infantry a platoon and a staff member, North Macedonia with a light infantry platoon and a staff member, and Turkey with an immediate air defense unit from its permanent deployment point and staff members at the headquarters.
Romania, in the role of Framework State of the Multinational Division Southeast (MND-SE) will provide formation for communication and information support.
Now the Ministry of Defense claims that there is no delay.
How far has the process gone and what will be built?
It has been decided that the design and conclusion of contracts for the construction of the base will be assigned to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The Ministry of Defense has sent an official letter to NSPA to specify price and time parameters for the implementation of the project “Design of new buildings and engineering infrastructure for deployment with an increased NATO presence”. The agency will conduct a procedure and conclude a contract for the preparation of an investment project with the selected contractor by July 2024.
Only after the preparation of this project will it be possible to specify the necessary financial means.
According to information from Mediapool, the initial estimates of the Ministry of Defense are about BGN 100 million.
“It has been decided that this project will be built by the NATO Agency for Acquisition and Maintenance. That way we will more easily have the opportunity to recover part of the funds under NATO programs. This is the idea,” explained to Mediapool Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov.
“The main reasons are that the barracks fund in the Bulgarian army has not been renewed in the last 30 years. We need the capacity to accommodate Bulgarian formations, the reserve and for joint use with allied troops. This is Bulgarian infrastructure for the Bulgarian army with accommodation possibilities of Allied troops”, he added.
It is planned that the military region will have administrative buildings, sleeping quarters, a canteen, a park area for equipment and helipads.
The concept project also includes a wastewater treatment plant.
How will it be financed?
The Ministry of Defense explained that the construction of the base will be financed by Bulgaria at the expense of the budget of the Ministry of Defense.
The general idea is that all services in it will be paid for by the resident formations of our allies, and these services will be provided or delivered by Bulgarian companies.
In this way, the economy and business in the region and the country will be supported.
The maintenance of the base will also require personnel, and in this regard, the construction of the base will provide a certain number of jobs.
“A Bare Meadow”
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense Hristo Gadjev, whom GERB proposed as the new Minister of Defense, does not hide his concern about the delay of the project.
“There are problems with the delay, the design has not even started yet. The initial plans were for the project to be completed by the end of 2024, but it has not even started. The decision on Kabile was made during the time of the regular government of Kiril Petkov. They have already passed nearly two years since the decision was made, and we are still in the open.” Gadjev said.
The former military minister and leading expert in the sector Velizar Shalamanov for his part, he comments that all decisions have been made at the NATO level and it remains for Bulgaria to organize the steps in the right way.
It is key to learn from what is happening at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo. There are serious delays, cost increases and it remains unclear whether the base will be ready to receive the new F-16 Block 70 fighter jets.
“Don’t repeat the same things with the infrastructure for the brigade. Allied forces cannot come without proper accommodation and training facilities.” Shalamanov pointed out.
Temporary solution – tents
As a temporary solution to ensure the accommodation of the military personnel of the combat group, the construction of a site for the establishment of a temporary camp is planned in the “Orleto” locality in the Kabile military region.
Construction of the camp should be completed by the end of July 2024.
“The Italian military will move to a tent camp indefinitely because it is not clear when construction will start. This is not the most positive signal to NATO. We could have acted more adequately and adaptively, in a more reasonable time frame.” commented Hristo Gadjev.
The construction of the temporary camp will take place on the Italian side.
Their intention is to build a field camp of a light type – of tents and containers. All services related to the provision of stationary electricity, water supply and sanitation, meals, bathing, renting containers, etc. the Italian side will pay them and provide them through contracts with Bulgarian companies from the region and the country.
Battlegroup training, sn. BGNES
Lack of information campaign
The mayor of Yambol, Valentin Revanski, has already announced that he will initiate a poll or local referendum on whether to deploy NATO forces near the city, which aim to strengthen Bulgaria’s defense after Putin’s military aggression against Ukraine.
BSP, “Levitsa” and “Vazrazhdane” participate in the campaign.
Gadjev commented that first it should be explained to the local public that this project is, in fact, beneficial to them.
“At the very least, it will create new jobs, secure orders for construction companies, and subsequently there will be in all areas of services – from maintenance, food and others, related to the presence of several thousand people, including Bulgarian troops, who now they are serving there. The most important thing for a region like Yambol is the creation of new jobs. This will also lead to attracting people to the area.” he pointed out.
According to him, the public must be actively convinced, including with a lot of work on the ground.
“There is no way from Sofia to convince the people of Yambol what exactly it is about. The Ministry of Defense must conduct an information campaign, which is infinitely late. It should have started a long time ago. Bulgarian infrastructure will be built there, which will be used by Bulgarian troops and our allies”.
Hristo Gadjev, born BGNES
According to him, the campaign should have started while the discussion was still going on, so as not to reach such extremes as the organization of a local referendum.
“It wouldn’t have gotten there if there was transparency and information about exactly what Kabile is going to build. The more information and transparency there is, the less room there is for fake news, conspiracies and pure propaganda.” commented Gadjev.
Is Bulgaria missing opportunities?
Gadjev commented that defense spending is not one of the most popular spending. As a rule, they do not create the best added value for the country’s economy, as for example those in infrastructure.
“One of the clear agreements in the formation of this majority is the increased spending on rearmament. Until before the war, such a consensus was impossible. We must monitor how the funds are invested and bet on the technologies of the future, use the lessons of the war. Invest in drones, for example, to emphasize electronic warfare and others,” he pointed out.
According to him, Bulgaria should prepare its strategy for the development of the defense industry, similar to the one in the European Union.
how to incorporate into it the enterprises from the information – communication sector, new technologies.
“One of the lessons of war is that it is a war of attrition. Whoever can produce has an advantage. That is why we must invest in our industry.” Gadjev added.
Bulgaria also delayed providing military aid to Ukraine. The process was blocked by the caretaker governments appointed by President Rumen Radev, but has now been unblocked.
“The first stage was the so-called triangular deals (compensating with new equipment to help Ukraine with old weapons – note ed.), which we missed, but there are other possibilities. There are different mechanisms for allocating funds when providing aid to Ukraine We have to be active and quick, because it is not clear when this window will close.”
What must be done?
Velizar Shalamanov commented for his part that Bulgaria was delayed by more than 10 years.
“After the decision was taken at the summit of NATO member states in Wales in 2014 to start the implementation of the Readiness Enhancement Plan, due to Bulgaria’s assessment that there is no threat, this activity was mainly in the Baltic republics and Poland. Necessary measures were not taken to strengthen NATO forces in South-Eastern Europe. And now there is a certain backwardness if we compare with Romania.” comments Shalamanov.
He recalled that the first important step was taken in 2014 with the adoption of the National Program “Bulgaria in NATO and European Defense 2020”, but its implementation was delayed.
Accomplishment of the first major objective, the disposal of old, non-NATO-compatible and largely non-functional Soviet equipment, has been delayed, resulting in lower capabilities of our military.
“This delay, together with the slow increase in defense spending and insufficient capacity to enter into large-scale contracts for modernization projects, has slowed modernization,” he commented.
“The priority nine projects of the modernization were supposed to be completed in 2020, and we see that now with the future contract for new 3D radars, they will have started, but they will finish only in five or six years.”
There is also a serious delay in the infrastructure and recruitment of personnel who can use this technique.
“The Strategic Review of Defense Policy must take these delays into account and propose a clear agenda for making up for lost time and making the most of the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.” said Shalamanov.
According to him, Bulgaria could have done much more if it had started as a priority the projects for the acquisition of Western equipment and the deployment of allied forces to compensate for some of our defense weaknesses.
“This would allow Bulgaria to transfer Soviet weapons and equipment to Ukraine much more actively and boldly. The admitted weakness of not asking for help from NATO blocks the possibility for us to help Ukraine, delays our rearmament, makes it more expensive and leads to missed opportunities, which other countries implemented through the so-called triangular deals”, he said.
Velizar Shalamanov, born BGNES
“As a priority, we must guarantee the defense and security of Bulgaria, taking advantage of our membership in NATO and defense planning in NATO, which allows us to have the capabilities we need even before we have acquired the weapons and equipment, taking advantage of allied forces. This will allowed us to provide more aid to Ukraine, which is extremely important for our security as well.”
He emphasizes the need for a long-term vision, a clear national program for the commitment of all parties and support in the parliament, because almost all important decisions in the field of defense go beyond the competence of the Ministry of Defense alone.
“A very clear example of this is the way in which the essential defense reform was launched in 1999 – a direct commitment of President Petar Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and the majority in the parliament. Now, when we are faced with solving at least three challenges in parallel – aid to Ukraine , accelerated rearmament and staffing of the army and reserve with motivated and highly trained staff – such a complex task cannot be solved by the Ministry of Defense alone”.
This article was created within the framework of the “The Power of Light: Media Monitoring in Support of European Rights and Values” initiative, funded by the European Union and the Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation (OSI). The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) or the EEOC. Neither the European Union nor the EACEA nor the EEC can be held responsible for them.
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