NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived by helicopter of the Bulgarian Air Force at the Novo Selo training range to get acquainted with the activities of the Multinational Battle Group with Italy as the host country. The guest was accompanied by caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense Emil Eftimov and caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov.

"Bulgaria plays a key role in our security not only in the Black Sea region but also beyond it", said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as quoted by BGNES. "I am impressed by your professionalism and your dedication in protecting Bulgaria and this part of the world, but also in protecting the Alliance. Italy is a big part of this group, but there are people from Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia and Greece– all of you are working together. This is the strength of NATO – we work together. This professionalism is natural for us", Mark Rutte told the servicemen, reported public service broadcaster BNT.

Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov told Mark Rutte that Bulgaria is doing everything to make NATO’s eastern flank safer.

Mark Rutte took office as NATO Secretary General on October 1.

• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is arriving in Bulgaria