South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) - formation established by seven participating nations in order to contribute to the regional security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area
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Enhancing Regional Security Through Cooperation: Outcomes of the 2025 DCHOD Meeting in Sofia

On June 11, 2025, Deputy Chiefs of Defence (DCHOD) from South-Eastern Europe (SEE) gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria, for the meeting under the framework of the South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) initiative.

This high-level forum was hosted by the Bulgarian Deputy Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, and chaired by Ms. Nikolescu, Director of the Political-Military Steering Committee (PMSC)/SEDM Coordination Committee (SEDM-CC). The event reaffirmed the collective commitment of SEE nations to promoting regional stability, trust, and security through sustained defence cooperation.

The 2025 DCHOD meeting emphasised the enduring value of regional dialogue as an essential mechanism for crisis management and conflict prevention. Amid persistent security challenges in South-Eastern Europe, nations reiterated their collective responsibility to advance cooperation at all levels. This aligns with SEDM’s core objectives: enhancing interoperability, increasing transparency, and reinforcing both regional and international security frameworks. The event exemplified high-level political-military coordination and the sustained commitment of the Member Nations to joint security objectives.

A central highlight of the meeting was the presentation delivered by Brigadier General Bilbil Bitri, Commander of SEEBRIG (COMSEEBRIG), who provided a comprehensive overview of the Brigade’s operational status and activities since the last DCHODs meeting in Istanbul. The presentation included a review of ongoing initiatives and outlined strategic goals for the remainder of 2025. Special attention was given to the successful execution of the SEVEN STARS 25 (SEST25) multinational training exercise, conducted from April 2 to 11, 2025, culminating in a dynamic live exercise (LIVEX) at the Krivolak Military Training Area.

The 25th anniversary of SEEBRIG, celebrated in 2024, was recognised as a milestone in regional military cooperation and a testament to the enduring value of the MPFSEE (Multinational Peace Force South-Eastern Europe) Agreement.

The DCHOD’s emphasised the necessity for SEEBRIG to maintain adaptability in a rapidly evolving security environment and encouraged efforts to enhance its relevance within both NATO and EU strategic frameworks.

In conclusion, the 2025 DCHOD meeting was a testament to the enduring commitment of South-Eastern European nations to collective defence and regional cooperation. The outstanding organisation of the event and the generous hospitality extended by the Bulgarian host delegation were widely commended, with particular recognition given to Lieutenant General Mihail Popov and his team, as well as Ms. Nikolescu for her effective leadership in steering the discussions. The outcomes of the meeting laid a solid foundation for further collaboration, innovation, and strategic alignment ahead of future high-level engagements.