SOFIA, April. 1 (Xinhua) -- An annual report on the state of Bulgaria's defense and armed forces has concluded that years of chronic underfunding have significantly undermined the military's ability to defend the country, the government said on Wednesday.
The report found that existing capability gaps in the armed forces cannot be addressed if defense spending remains capped at 2 percent of gross domestic product.
According to the government, insufficient and inconsistent funding has hindered efforts to resolve personnel shortages and delayed key modernization and rearmament programs. As a result, the military faces limitations in executing its core tasks, particularly those related to deterrence and national defense.
The report comes at a time of a rapidly evolving security environment marked by increasing military threats, underscoring the need for a stronger focus on defense policy and investment.
Despite the challenges, the government expressed cautious optimism about the medium-term outlook. With defense spending gradually increasing, improvements are expected through accelerated rearmament, the introduction of newly acquired modern equipment, and ongoing measures to fill vacant military positions.
The report stresses that national defense must remain a central priority, requiring sustained political commitment and adequate resources from the government, parliament, and broader society. ■