During the annual NATO Military Committee conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Admiral Emil Efthimov held a bilateral meeting with General Fabien Mandon, France's Chief of Defense, to discuss matters of mutual interest. During the conversation, the Bulgarian Chief of Defense emphasized the need to maintain high readiness to effectively execute the Alliance's defense plans amidst increasing global strategic competition. This information is provided by the Ministry of Defense press center.
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) presented strategic considerations regarding the status of NATO activities, missions, and operations, as well as the feasibility of the Alliance's plans. During the meeting, the chiefs of defense discussed methods for achieving the necessary readiness levels to implement the Alliance's defense plans. The discussions are taking place within the context of the Euro-Atlantic Area Deterrence and Defense Concept and the implementation of the Alliance's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force for air and missile defense.
Capability building processes and transformation are subjects of special attention at the conference. According to data from the Ministry of Defense, the changing nature of warfare dictates a need to accelerate the deployment of innovative capabilities and to increase the capacity of the defense industry.
Admiral Emil Efthimov emphasized that when European allies and Canada take on greater commitments to the defense of the Euro-Atlantic area, it is not limited merely to providing a presence. It is vital that the appropriate forces are stationed in the right place, with the necessary degree of readiness, and with the ability to be sustained for as long as the operational environment requires. "This requires force preparation, the implementation of measures—including legislative ones—that provide the necessary authorities for their use when needed, the fulfillment of committed Capability Targets, the adaptation of the defense industry, and finding a rapid yet careful approach to deploying new technologies. Only through a balance between the rapid integration of innovation and the maintenance of interoperability will we be able to meet the challenges of the modern security environment," Admiral Efthimov noted.
The Alliance's highest military body—the NATO Military Committee Conference—is being held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 18 to 19. As indicated on the NATO website, the forum brings together the defense chiefs of all 32 member states. The conference is expected to conclude with the election of the next chair of this supreme military body of the Alliance.