Bulgaria is one of the 18 NATO member countries which meet the criteria of spending 2% of their GDP on defence, Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said in Brussels, where he is taking part in the meeting of NATO defence ministers.

“We have set down 2% in the planned budget for this year, and for every subsequent year up until 2032. Around one-third of this budget is to be invested in new capabilities, which is regarded by our allies as a positive thing,” Todor Tagarev said. In a comment on Donald Trump’s words that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending criteria on defence, Minister Tagarev said: “Mr. Trump is on the campaign trail and his position is absolutely understandable. All countries assumed such a commitment back at the 2014 summit, and the fact that some have not yet reached these 2% is worrying.”

From Brussdels Todor Tagarev left for Munich where he is to take part in the annual security conference.