Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs highlights the growing importance of NATO for the Black Sea region

Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva stressed the growing importance of NATO for the Black Sea region during a meeting of the Alliance's foreign ministers on 1 and 2 December by videoconference.

The first session of the forum focused on the recommendations of the expert group on the reflection process for adaptation to the changing security environment "NATO2030".

Minister Zaharieva thanked the group for its efforts, emphasizing that it is extremely important that the recommendations be implemented in a way that strengthens solidarity and unity in the Alliance.

"NATO needs to improve its presence and situational awareness in the Black Sea region," Ekaterina Zaharieva said.

The foreign ministers also discussed a wide range of issues related to challenges from Russia, recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Sahel.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that the allies must preserve what has been achieved so far in Afghanistan, and that Bulgaria will remain engaged in the "Resolute Support" mission as long as necessary.

Ekaterina Zaharieva welcomed the progress in Libya and expressed the expectation that it would serve as a basis for the political transition. The process should be under the auspices of the UN and within the Berlin Process, and NATO should continue to coordinate with other international organizations on the ground, including the EU and the newly appointed UN Special Envoy for Libya.

Regarding the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans, the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister stressed the role of NATO in promoting good neighbourly relations, combating misinformation, supporting reforms and practical cooperation with partners in the region. "At the same time, Western Balkan partners are expected to synchronize their security policies with those of the Alliance," Zaharieva said.

On the second day of the meeting, Minister Zaharieva and her NATO counterparts, EU High Representative Josep Borrel, the countries partners from the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea), Finland and Sweden, discussed changes in the global balance of forces due to the growing influence of China. The participants in the discussion agreed that China poses many challenges to the Euro-Atlantic community, but also opens opportunities for cooperation in areas such as arms control, counter-terrorism and others.

At the final, third session of the forum, NATO foreign ministers discussed with their counterparts from Georgia and Ukraine the situation in the Black Sea region. "The participation of our closest partners today is a strong political message for NATO's ongoing commitment to Georgia and Ukraine," Zaharieva said. She reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for the two countries' territorial integrity and sovereignty.

She welcomed the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed hope that it would be a first step towards a lasting solution to the crisis, mediated by the Minsk Group. The videoconference was made with the assistance of the Military Intelligence Service.