14 Sep 2026
Minister Guido Crosetto, on an official visit to Bulgaria, held a cordial meeting with his counterpart, Dimitar Stoyanov. “Italy and Bulgaria share a common vision of the main challenges to European security, starting with the central role of the EU and NATO as the key frameworks for strategic decision-making and the need to strengthen the European pillar of the Alliance, going beyond the perimeter of the 27 Member States in a spirit of full complementarity with NATO,” Minister Crosetto said. He then stressed the “convergence also on cooperation in the defence industry sector and on the need to enhance our ability to counter new threats, starting with hybrid and cognitive warfare, by developing synergies and shared solutions.” The meeting also focused on the stability of the Western Balkans and the security of the Black Sea, an integral part of Euro-Atlantic security, with particular attention to surveillance and reconnaissance activities and the protection of critical underwater, energy and communications infrastructure. “We also share a common focus,” Minister Crosetto added, “on strengthening deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank, including through the continuation of the Agreement on the joint management of the military infrastructure at Kabile, in support of the presence of the NATO Multinational Battle Group.”
