An analysis of defense and security in Southeast Europe was presented during the international conference “Automotive Forum Bulgaria 2026,” organized by Automotive Cluster Bulgaria at Sofia Tech Park, with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) as a media partner. The analysis was presented by Ralitsa Vaseva, Head of Projects at SeeNext Insights.

Vaseva stated that the period of relative stability in Southeast Europe ended following the war in Ukraine, and security has once again become central to European policy. According to her, this does not mean the region is on the brink of war, but rather that countries need to become “better prepared, more connected, and more resilient.”

She noted that, according to the analysis, defense is no longer viewed solely as an expense, but also as an economic and strategic driver. “We are witnessing the shift from passive security to active preparedness,” Vaseva said. According to her, NATO and EU membership remain essential, but each country must also develop its own capabilities — including military forces, infrastructure, industry, technology, and resilience.

The analysis examines Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia as key countries for regional security. According to the presented data, Greece remains the leading military power in Southeast Europe due to its strategic location and the importance of its navy and air force. Romania was identified as NATO’s logistics hub in the region and the largest beneficiary under the SAFE mechanism, receiving nearly EUR 16.7 billion.

Regarding Bulgaria, Vaseva emphasized the country’s role as an industrial hub for the production of weapons and ammunition. She pointed out that the war in Ukraine has demonstrated how important manufacturing capacity and supply chains are. “European security no longer depends only on who possesses equipment, but on who can produce, maintain, and deliver,” she said.

According to the analysis, infrastructure is also becoming a security factor. Vaseva noted that roads, railways, ports, and bridges now have a defense function as well, since they must allow for the rapid movement of equipment, troops, and resources. She emphasized that Bulgaria is a natural corridor between Greek ports, Romania, and the Black Sea, making its transport infrastructure strategically important for NATO’s eastern flank.

Among the key elements of the new security environment are energy independence and digital readiness. Vaseva stated that LNG terminals, gas interconnectors, and electricity transmission networks are now considered part of national security. According to her, cybersecurity, secure communication networks, and cyber incident response teams are becoming essential components of modern defense preparedness.

She also presented data on the development of the defense industry in the region. According to the analysis, while revenues of the largest companies in Southeast Europe declined by 3.2 percent, leading defense companies recorded annual growth of more than 30 percent in 2024.

According to her, Bulgaria plays an important role in the region’s defense industry, particularly in the production of weapons and ammunition. She gave the example of the increased revenues of Arsenal between 2021 and 2024, which demonstrate that the Bulgarian defense industry “is not part of the past, but an active sector in today’s European defense environment.”

The presentation also focused on the technological transformation of defense, including drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, satellite technologies, and C4I systems.