Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Ends U.S. Military Access to Sofia Airport
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the U.S. military’s access to Sofia International Airport will cease on June 30th. This decision, he explained, stems from Washington’s “failure to approve a visa-free travel regime for Bulgarian nationals.”
The move shortened an extension that the U.S. had previously requested, giving them just a month to relocate their operations.
“During a meeting with the U.S. president, we requested a suspension of visas for our nationals, but we haven’t received a favorable response,” Radev stated in a Cabinet meeting. “We recognize the complexities involved, but we also have our own priorities.”
“We’re extending the permit until the end of June to give our allies some time to reschedule and find alternative locations,” he added.
This diplomatic issue follows conversations between Radev and President Donald Trump, in which the Bulgarian leader expressed optimism about quickly resolving the visa situation. Notably, Bulgaria is one of the few EU countries whose citizens still require visas for even short visits to the U.S.
Radev’s Bulgarian Progressive Party achieved a significant victory in April’s parliamentary elections, emphasizing national priorities in their campaign. The U.S. military has been utilizing Sofia International Airport under a previous agreement, which was set to expire at the end of May.
The military presence includes various aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and the KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling operations.
Since mid-February, up to six KC-135 Stratotankers have been deployed in Sofia. The temporary extension, sanctioned by Bulgaria’s intelligence service, allows for up to 15 U.S. military aircraft, along with support equipment and 500 personnel, to remain until the end of June.
In early March, then-Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov stated that the Trump administration had not formally requested military aircraft stationing in Bulgaria for potential operations against Iran, emphasizing that current deployments were part of standard allied cooperation.
