Bulgaria’s Radev cabinet is confronting two high‑profile defence setbacks: a stalled joint ammunition‑factory project with Germany’s Rheinmetall that lacks money, land and detailed calculations, and a discreet request to Poland for MiG‑29 fighter jets that have been promised to Ukraine under NATO coordination.
Rheinmetall joint plant stalls
According to a report by Mediapool.bg, the cabinet has not abandoned the plan to build a military factory with Rheinmetall, but it currently has “no money, no land and no calculations” for the venture. Deputy Prime Minister Kiril Poulev confirmed that the government has identified a series of “issues” with the Rheinmetall‑VMZ‑Sopot ammunition plant project, echoing the media’s assessment that the initiative is at a “standstill.”
“The cabinet has not given up on the Rheinmetall project, but we lack money, land and calculations,” the report said.
The Sofia Globe added that negotiations with Rheinmetall are expected to start “from scratch,” implying that earlier agreements have been rendered ineffective. The proposed plant, intended to produce modern ammunition for NATO‑standard weapons, was seen as a cornerstone of Bulgaria’s effort to revive its defence‑industry base and generate jobs in the Sopot region.
Analysts note that the project’s collapse would deprive Bulgaria of a potential boost to its export‑oriented defence sector and could weaken its credibility within the alliance, especially as neighbouring states expand their own industrial capacities.
Bulgaria seeks Polish MiG‑29s
In parallel, a cluster of sources including Dnevnik.bg, Novinite.com and Fakti.bg reported that Bulgaria has likely asked Poland for MiG‑29 fighter jets that were originally slated for transfer to Ukraine. The request surfaced after Poland received a NATO‑level inquiry about the aircraft, as documented by Polish Ministry of Defence statements relayed by Caliber.Az and LIGA.net.
Polish officials confirmed that an “unnamed NATO country” approached Warsaw for the jets, a description that aligns with the Bulgarian government’s suspected request. The New Voice of Ukraine and RBC‑Ukraine noted that Ukraine expects the MiG‑29s under a separate NATO pledge, raising questions about how the aircraft would be re‑allocated.
The potential diversion of the fighters could strain Bulgaria’s relations with Kyiv and test the cohesion of NATO’s assistance framework. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized the importance of receiving the MiG‑29s to replenish its air‑defence capabilities, which have been eroded by the ongoing conflict.
Domestic political pressure adds another layer of complexity. The Radev cabinet, a coalition formed after the 2023 parliamentary elections, has been under scrutiny for its defence spending and the ability to deliver on promised modernisation programmes. Opposition parties and civil‑society groups have criticised the government for pursuing costly projects without securing financing or clear strategic justification.
Both issues highlight the broader challenges facing Bulgaria’s defence policy: aligning national ambitions with limited fiscal resources, while navigating the expectations of NATO allies and the urgent needs of a neighbour at war. Observers anticipate that the cabinet will seek additional EU or NATO funding to revive the Rheinmetall talks, and that diplomatic channels will be used to clarify the status of the MiG‑29s to avoid friction with Ukraine.
In the coming weeks, the government is expected to present a revised roadmap for the Rheinmetall partnership and to engage in high‑level talks with Warsaw and NATO officials to resolve the MiG‑29 request. The outcomes will likely influence Bulgaria’s standing within the alliance and its capacity to sustain a viable domestic defence industry.
