Bulgaria is set to host NATO’s 20th Emergency Management exercise, "BULGARIA 2025," from September 7-12, 2025. This significant multinational event, organized by NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre and Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior, aims to bolster disaster preparedness and response capabilities among participating nations and partner organizations.

Key Takeaways

  • Bulgaria will host NATO’s 20th Emergency Management exercise, "BULGARIA 2025."
  • The exercise is scheduled for September 7-12, 2025.
  • It aims to enhance resilience, interoperability, and response capabilities in disaster management.
  • The event will foster civil-military cooperation and strengthen partnerships.

A Major Multinational Endeavor

"BULGARIA 2025" is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most intricate multinational emergency management activities. The exercise is designed to significantly improve the disaster preparedness of all involved, including NATO Allies, partner countries, and international organizations. Its core objectives revolve around building resilience, enhancing interoperability, and refining the response capabilities of participants.

Objectives and Scope

The exercise will focus on several key areas to achieve its goals. These include:

  • Strengthening civil-military cooperation during crisis response.
  • Deepening collaboration between NATO Allies and partner nations.
  • Providing a platform for knowledge sharing and the dissemination of best practices in disaster and emergency response.

The specific objectives of "BULGARIA 2025" are being tailored by the participants themselves, ensuring the exercise scenario directly addresses their priorities and challenges.

Planning and Execution

A dedicated Core Planning Team, comprising experts from 14 different countries, has been assembled by NATO and the host nation, Bulgaria. This team is responsible for developing a comprehensive exercise scenario that will adequately challenge every participating team. They will also lead the actual conduct and subsequent evaluation of the exercise.

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Following the main exercise period from September 7-12, 2025, a Lessons Identified Conference is scheduled to take place on February 10-11, 2026. This conference will serve as a crucial forum to analyze the outcomes and identify key learnings for future emergency management efforts.

Sources

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