Infrastructure worth EUR 6 billion will be built in Bulgaria for NATO and civilian purposes, Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev said for bTV. The infrastructure will include roads, railways, oil pipelines, warehouses and accommodation buildings. NATO will deploy to Bulgaria multinational brigade combat teams comprising a total of 5,000 people. They will be from the United States, Italy and 5 other surrounding countries.

Minister Tagarev, who returned from the United States, said he had visited the factories where seven of the first eight F-16 Block 70 combat aircraft for Bulgaria are already being assembled. The tests of the fighter aircraft are expected to begin in the autumn, and the first two fighter jets will be delivered in early 2025. Shortly after, the first Stryker armoured fighting vehicles will be delivered to Bulgaria.

Minister Tagarev said that the state is trying to help the sailors captured by Yemen‘s Houthi rebels. Bulgaria will not participate directly in the Red Sea operation against the Houthis, but will send liaison officers based in Bahrain.