Exports of Bulgarian weapons have increased by 200% due to help for Ukraine.

It is noted that last year the export of weapons amounted to €1.7B, which is equal to 2% of the country’s GDP. According to the Minister of Economy, Bohdan Bohdanov, the Bulgarian defense industry is developing and plans to modernize its production. The government is trying to quickly adapt its factories to produce weapons systems and 155-mm ammunition according to the NATO standard.

Almost all weapons products in 2022 were exported through intermediaries to Ukraine. These were mainly ammunition for old Soviet weapons systems. Export through intermediaries resulted from the pro-Russian policies of the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party, who refused to sell it directly to Ukraine.

Currently, a pro-Western government is in power in the country, for which the export of weapons is not taboo. The possibility of providing a third package of military aid is under consideration.