SOFIA: Bulgaria’s government is set to seek parliamentary approval for the temporary deployment of up to eight US aerial refueling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base following a request from Washington to support military operations in the Middle East.
Speaking at the annual conference of Bulgarian ambassadors on Monday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the US Embassy submitted a diplomatic request on June 17 under the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States.
Radev said the Council of Ministers is expected to forward the proposal to the National Assembly for authorization, noting that Bulgarian law requires parliamentary approval before foreign military personnel or assets can be stationed in the country, even at facilities designated for joint use.
He stressed that no decision has been finalized because the government must comply with domestic legal procedures despite the urgency of the US request.
The prime minister also criticized the previous administration over its handling of a similar deployment earlier this year, alleging that US refueling aircraft were allowed to operate from Sofia Airport before lawmakers had granted formal approval. He said the process lacked transparency and was presented in a misleading manner.
Radev said the current government’s approach is intended to uphold Bulgaria’s legal framework while meeting its commitments as a NATO ally and safeguarding national interests.
The proposed deployment comes as the United States continues military operations in the Middle East and seeks logistical support from allied countries.
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