Bulgaria has opened a new defense facility in Sofia to improve the country’s cybersecurity capabilities.
The Cyber Defense Center will facilitate cyber-related education and hands-on training for Bulgarian military personnel, equipping them with the skills required for identification, deterrence, and defense operations against cyber attacks.
The $12-million project was funded through the US State Department’s Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and delivered through the US Department of Defense.
“Today’s launch of the Cyber Defense Center represents a significant milestone in America’s ongoing partnership with Bulgaria,” the US Embassy in Bulgaria said.
“This Center and associated support program will equip students with the practical and technical knowledge needed to conduct effective cybersecurity operations, integrating new techniques and technologies with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense’s current cyber security procedures.”
“The United States is proud to support Bulgaria in its efforts to enhance its cyber defense capabilities and look forward to continued cooperation in this critically important area.”
Support for Bulgaria
The US government has provided over $238 million in military aid to Bulgaria in the past five years, according to the embassy.
Alongside cybersecurity, the assistance was utilized for military professionalization, equipment upgrades, human resources, maritime domain awareness, and NATO interoperability.
Furthermore, the US allocated $58 million in FMF between 2017 and 2022 to bolster Bulgaria’s military intelligence, communications, and cybersecurity capabilities.
International Cyber Defense Projects With US
The US National Guard and the Chilean Army completed a training exercise this month to improve cybersecurity skills against current and future cyber threats.
The activity involved a simulated attack via a Chilean government website.
The same month, US Cyber Command conducted a “defensive hunt operation” in Lithuania in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The US-Lithuania cyberwarfare team examined critical networks for malicious activities across the location bordering the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
