Ministry of Defense

Corporate and personal income taxes will not increase next year, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova announced. She also confirmed that the 2025 budget deficit will be kept within 3% of GDP, with a package of measures targeting both revenues and expenditures to achieve this goal.

The caretaker government of Bulgaria has approved an additional allocation of 20 million leva to the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense. This decision was announced by the government press service, with the stated purpose of supporting the two ministries amid "increased migration pressure" between June 1 and October 31.

Nearly 300 residents from Mala Prespa in Albania, where a Bulgarian community resides, received free medical check-ups from a team of prominent Bulgarian doctors led by the renowned cardiologist Prof. Dr. Ivo Petrov. The mission, organized for the second consecutive year, was initiated and funded by the Bulgarian Memory Foundation with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has called for a comprehensive analysis following the recent inspection by the Ministry of Defense concerning the fighter jet crash that occurred a month ago, which resulted in the deaths of both pilots.

The process of upgrading the Bulgarian Army's air defense systems has officially commenced. On October 7, an additional agreement was signed between the Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany and Diehl Defense, the manufacturer of the IRIS-T SLM systems, regarding the provision of an air defense complex for the Bulgarian Air Force.

The Greek Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, has announced upcoming changes to military service within the next 12 months, aiming to transform it into a comprehensive process of acquiring extensive basic operational knowledge. The goal is to make military service more meaningful and valuable for the military and the individuals who serve.

In a notable policy shift, the Ministry of Defense has announced that beginning with the 2026 nationwide examinations, students from all scientific disciplines will be able to apply for military academies. Previously, only candidates from the scientific field, which emphasizes positive and technological sciences, were eligible for admission.

Atanas Ilkov, Bulgaria's Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, announced that there are currently no indications from Bulgarian or partner agencies of terrorist threats or a deterioration in the security environment due to the tensions in the Middle East.

The presence of Defense Minister Nikos Dendias in Lorient, France, for the launch of the second frigate “NEARCHOS,” revealed the acquisition of a fourth Belh@rra frigate, something previously hinted at by protothema.gr.

According to military sources cited by hurriyetdailynews.com, the Turkish armed forces now use only communication systems and software developed and manufactured in Turkey. This decision follows the explosion of hundreds of electronic devices in Lebanon.