BULGARIA 2025: NATO plans the 20th Civil Emergency Management Exercise

Translated by Beatrice Cherubini

In September 2025, the Republic of Bulgaria will host one of the largest international exercises dedicated to emergency management: BULGARIA 2025. This is the 20^th edition of the exercise coordinated by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), NATO’s primary tool for responding to civil crises swiftly and effectively. 

The exercise will take place from 7 to 12 September at the modern International Training Centre for first responders, located about 80 kilometers from Sofia, the capital. The choice of this highly specialized centre aims to ensure that the activity is held in a suitable environment capable of replicating complex and realistic crisis scenarios, putting collective response capabilities to the test in the face of natural disasters, technological emergencies, and terrorist threats. At the same time, one of the main objectives will be to strengthen coordination between civilian and military actors, both nationally and internationally.

Behind the preparation of the event lies meticulous and multidisciplinary work. A selected group of experts from 14 NATO member and partner countries, together with the Bulgarian authorities, is working hard to design, plan, and oversee the entire exercise. Their task is to build a credible, challenging, and meaningful scenario, paying close attention to every detail to ensure that participants face complex situations effectively and collaboratively.

The core of the envisioned scenario will be a powerful earthquake striking the Montana region, in the northwest of the country. This primary event will trigger a series of secondary emergencies, including structural collapse, chemical contamination, health crises, and communication disruptions. Moreover, the situation will worsen due to factors such as digital disinformation, climate change, and sudden migration flows. This will not only be a test of operational capabilities, but, above all, a proving ground for cross-sector coordination, organizational resilience, and multi-level cooperation. 

The planned activities will involve key sectors, such as:

• Civil-Military Cooperation;
• Urban and water search and rescue operations;
• Emergency medical response;
• CBRN incident management (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear);
• Strategic communication, which is crucial in an era when information threats can amplify the impact of real emergencies.

The main objectives of BULGARIA 2025 include:

• Strengthening collective resilience at the international level;
• Improving prevention and rapid response to complex disasters;
• Promoting cooperation between civilian and military actors;
• Enhancing logistical capabilities and cross-border transport;
• Assessing Bulgaria’s effectiveness as a Host Nation, both from a logistical and organizational standpoint.

All participating countries, including international organizations, must indicate in advance their operational resources, the specific capabilities and response plans to be tested and evaluated, with a strong focus on interoperability and multilateral cooperation.

As for the financial aspects, the organizational costs will be shared between NATO and the Bulgarian government. Each participating country will independently cover the costs related to its own involvement, although dedicated NATO funds are available for eligible partner nations to facilitate their attendance and logistical preparation.

In an increasingly unstable geopolitical context marked by complex and hybrid challenges, BULGARIA 2025 will not be merely a technical and operational exercise. Above all, it will represent a crucial opportunity to strengthen international solidarity, collective readiness, and mutual trust among allies and partners, demonstrating the Euro-Atlantic community’s ability to respond as one to any type of crisis.

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