Bulgaria Sets Defense Spending Target at 5% of GDP

The Government of Bulgaria approved a national plan to gradually increase defense spending to 5% of the country's gross domestic product by 2035. This decision implements commitments established during the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague and aims to counter rising geostrategic and geopolitical risks.

The funding structure designates at least 3.5% of GDP for core defense expenditures, focusing on military rearmament and the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. An additional 1.5% is allocated to security-related investments, which include cyber defense, innovation, civil protection, defense infrastructure, and military mobility.

To support these goals, the government will consolidate expenditures across state institutions and leverage European Union instruments. These efforts are intended to expand domestic industrial capacity, facilitate the transfer of new technologies, and create jobs within the defense sector.