The NATO Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria demonstrated its readiness to repel a potential attack on Bulgaria. The command staff exercise at the Novo Selo Range trained the group's readiness to expand to a brigade and, if necessary, defend the country, said caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov. 

Caretaker Premier Dimitar Glavchev, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov were guests of the command staff exercise of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup. The exercise was led by the staff of the Italian brigade Ariete with the participation of the Battlegroup comprising 1,300 soldiers. According to NATO standards, it can grow to a brigade of 5,000 personnel. The group includes Stryker combat vehicles, a British company, an anti-tank platoon from Greece and the Bulgarian 42nd Mechanized Battalion. The battle group also includes troops from Turkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania.