Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami discussed bilateral defence cooperation and partnership in the context of NATO.

The discussion focused on support for Ukraine and the contribution of Bulgaria and Japan to global and regional security. The two interlocutors expressed satisfaction with Japanese servicemen's successful participation in a multinational minesweeping exercise in Bulgarian territorial waters in September. It was the first time Japanese Navy representatives took part in an exercise in the Black Sea. 

They also discussed the possibility of exchanges in the field of military education through the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and in the field of crisis management and disaster relief.