It is very likely that Bulgarians replace the Spanish troops in the 9,000-strong multinational contingent after their withdrawal from Iraq, Bulgarian media informed on Tuesday.
Following the intention of skipping Iraq's mission pronounced by the newly elect socialist government in Spain, NATO will have to provide fresh troops to fill in the Polish-led international contingent.
Poland has reportedly addressed NATO to recruit new armed forces from the coalition states. Now it seems improbable to hand over the commandment in Iraq to the 1,300-strong Spanish battalion on July 1, as the new Spanish ruling party declared withdrawal unless UN peacekeeping forces set foot in the post-war country.
Bulgaria sent January its second infantry unit, consisting of more than 400 soldiers, who are deployed in the holy city of Karbala.