British News Agency

According to a statement by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belgium and the Netherlands for the procurement of seven mine countermeasure vessels.

The document was also signed by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken and Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz. The official signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the NATO Summit held in Ankara.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Stoyanov stated that security in the Black Sea region has a direct and significant impact on Euro-Atlantic security. He stressed that Bulgaria would continue to be a reliable ally contributing to the joint efforts to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities.

Stoyanov said that the vessels to be acquired from the Belgian and Dutch navies would enhance his country's naval defense capabilities. "These mine countermeasure vessels will enable us to fully deliver our fair share and contribution to the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group and to the overall defense capability of the Alliance's Eastern Flank," he said.