Posted on 07/22/2014 9:21:21 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
WARSAW (Reuters) - Bulgaria called for more NATO troops in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea, as well as more joint military exercises, to improve security in the region after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
An ex-communist state on the Black Sea, Bulgaria was a close Cold War ally of Moscow but joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union three years later.
"The events in Ukraine proved that we cannot take peace and security in Europe for granted," President Rosen Plevneliev said at a meeting in Warsaw of heads of state of NATO countries in central and eastern Europe, according to a statement from his office.
"Increasing NATO forces in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea, carrying out more joint military exercises, as well as the more active use of joint military facilities in Bulgaria, were among the proposals put forward by President Plevneliev," the statement said.
He also said Bulgaria will raise its defense spending to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2015 and then gradually raise it further to 2 percent of GDP.
Poland, which already spends 1.95 percent of GDP on defense, joined Bulgaria's calls, and said the region should improve military infrastructure so it can get help from NATO if it is needed, the Polish President said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
NATO is still obviously needed to protect freedom from Russia, and it looks like Russia’s Warsaw pact is happy to have escaped their old ally, and do not want to fall into it’s clutches again.
Russia’s unprovoked invasions of Georgia and Ukraine prove that Russia’s leadership is just as genocidal and psychotic as it was during the Cold War, and is a threat to the whole world.
It’s revealing that the past members of Russia’s military alliance, are terrified of it.
Why don’t you euroweenie ass hats do it yourself?
Bulgaria??!!??
Enthusiastic ally of German Empire in WWI
Enthusiastic ally of Nazi Germany in WWII
Enthusiastic ally of Soviet Union. The loudest and the most shameless Kremlin mouthpiece.
Enthusiastic ally of the U.S. Not the loudest, but shameful mouthpiece nevertheless.
U.S. should take note how ALL of former Bulgarian masters ended. Perhaps the strongest curse is "wish you Bulgaria for an ally".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.