Sofia, Bulgaria - June 03, 2025 A forum dedicated to the possibilities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany in the field of defense was held in Sofia, in which Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also participated. Radev pointed to the multinational project European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) initiated by Germany for the joint implementation of an air and missile defense system as a positive example. In March of this year, Rumen Radev initiated a visit to our country for the CEO of the largest defense concern in Europe, Rheinmetall, Armin Paperger, to identify specific projects for investment and industrial cooperation with the Bulgarian defense industry and science. The Bulgarian President highlighted Germany's key role for Bulgaria as a strategic ally and partner in NATO and the EU, a leading investor in our country. Germany is Bulgaria's largest trading partner, with trade between the two countries exceeding 12 billion euros last year.