(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
September 25, 2025
Ministry of Defense Japan
1. Visit to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence
On September 23 2025, PVM Kaneko visited Bulgarian Ministry of Defence and met with Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov. He also met with Deputy Minister of Defence Iliev on September 24. They exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation including high-level exchanges and cooperation through NATO and EU, defense policy of Japan and Bulgaria, and support for Ukraine under the international environment that security of Euro-Atrantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable. As both countries share the value and principle of democracy and rule-based order, they concurred to continue to further promote bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges based on “Strategic Partnership between Japan and Bulgaria” which was signed in May this year.
2. Visit to the Graf Ignatievo Air Base
On the same day, PVM Kaneko visited Graf Ignatievo Air Base. He received a briefing on their missions and observed fighter aircraft there.
3. Courtesy Call on President Radev and Deputy Prime Minister Donchev
On September 24 2025, PVM Kaneko paid a courtesy call on President Radev and Deputy Prime Minister Donchev. They exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges and others. They confirmed that they would expand bilateral defense cooperation as it was confirmed in the “Strategic Partnership between Japan and Bulgaria” signed in May 2025.
4. Visit to the European Centre of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response (CMDR COE)
On the same day, PVM Kaneko visited the European Centre of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response (CMDR COE), which conducts research and training on wide range of crisis management and disaster related issues, and received a briefing on the outline of the COE.
5. Visit to National Defence College
On the same day, PVM Kaneko visited “G.S. Rakovski“ National Defence College and with Major-General Stayko Prokopiev, Commandant of „G.S. Rakovski“ National Defence College and received a briefing on the outline of the College. In addition, PVM Kaneko gave a speech on the "Security Environment in Indo-Pacific Region" to students, and shared the recognition that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable.
Parliamentary Vice Minister Kaneko’s Visit to Bulgaria (PDF)