Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and the problems in the Western Balkans are security threats

Ministry of Defense
Photo: mod.bg

The trend towards changing the world order, disregard for international law and a preference for the use of military force as a mechanism to achieve political goals continues. This is stated in the 2023 report of Bulgaria's Military Intelligence Service

"These destabilizing factors have arisen primarily as a result of the actions of Russia as well as other authoritarian states." The Kremlin's aim to reassert its influence in the post-Soviet space and its use of military force create long-term preconditions for militarizing international relations, the document adds.

Regionally, Russia's war against Ukraine is characterized by two main trends - the Kremlin's increasing territorial claims and its drive towards a gradual escalation of armed conflict. The chances of achieving lasting peace through diplomacy were diminishing, the Military Intelligence Service pointed out. According to the report, Moscow's escalating nuclear rhetoric, along with its operations to discredit the arms control regime, increased the risks of nuclear conflict and/or a nuclear-powered technological catastrophe.

"Despite the serious efforts and commitment of the international community, tensions in the Western Balkans remain high. We do not rule out attempts to achieve foreign policy objectives through the use of military force and/or the redrawing of borders in formal compliance with international law. An indicator of this is the growing military potential of certain states. The main destabilising factors remain the lack of progress in dialogue and relations between Serbia and Kosovo and the destructive separatist actions of the Bosnian Serbs," the document reads.

"Migration flows to Europe, including through Bulgaria, have remained a persistent problem with a negative impact on the security environment. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, migration pressure to Europe along the Balkan and Mediterranean routes is increasing and the opportunities for exploiting migration processes in anti-EU hybrid operations have expanded," the Military Intelligence Service was quoted as saying by BTA. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

More than 120 take part in the reenactment of the battle at Buzludzha

The last battle of the legendary Bulgarian voivode Hadji Dimitar and his men against the Ottoman troops in 1868 will be reenacted for the 11 th time, Nikolay Baynov from the National Association Tradition in Kazalnak told the BNR. More..

published on 7/19/25 9:10 AM

Weather forecast: Temperatures start to creep up over the weekend

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 10° C.  and 19° C., for Sofia 10° C.  During the day there will be sun with cumulus clouds after midday, and rain and thunder in some parts of the mountain regions of Southern Bulgaria. There will..

published on 7/18/25 6:35 PM
Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy Tommy Joyce (left to right).

The Energy Minister: The USA is a powerful ally on key regional projects.

A Bulgarian delegation led by Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov held a series of meetings with representatives of the US State Department and the Department of Energy in Washington . The discussions centred on strengthening the strategic partnership..

published on 7/18/25 6:16 PM