Bulgaria

Informations

The military of Bulgaria is called the Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian, B'lgarska armiia; romanized as Bulgarska armiya). Rumen Radev, the President of Bulgaria since January 2017, is the commander-in-chief. The Ministry of Defense provides political leadership. However, the Defense Staff is responsible for overall military command. This is headed by the Chief of Defense (formerly known as the Chief of General Staff). The three main branches of the Bulgarian army are the Land Forces, Air Forces, and Naval Forces. However, the term "Bulgarian Army" refers to all three. The Army has been a key player in the defense of the nation's sovereignty throughout history. The Army was established in 1878 and became a major military power in the region. It participated in many wars, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), First Balkan War (1912-13), Second Balkan War (1913), First World War 1915-1918, Second World War (1915-1918), Second World War (1941-1945), and Second World War (1915-1918), where it gained significant combat experience.

The Peoples Republic of Bulgaria had one of the largest militaries of the Warsaw Pact in the Cold War. It was estimated to have 152,000 troops in 1988. The political leadership has adopted a pro-NATO strategy since the fall of communism. This will reduce military personnel and weaponry. Bulgaria joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 29 March 2004. St. George is the patron saint of Bulgaria's Army. Official holidays in Bulgaria include the Armed Forces Day, or St. Georges Day (6 Mai).

Source: Wikipedia