Bulgaria will permit US military aircraft to remain on its territory only through the end of June, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, linking the decision to a dispute over Washington’s failure to approve visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens.
The issue has added a new point of friction between Sofia and Washington. At the same time, Bulgaria is publicly reaffirming its NATO commitments and pledging to raise defense spending.
Bulgaria links US aircraft stay to Visa-Free travel dispute
Radev said Bulgaria understands that US regulatory procedures can be complex and time-consuming. However, he stressed that Sofia also has its own priorities and procedures. As a result, Bulgaria cannot approve extended stays for US military aircraft and tanks at Sofia airport.
“I fully understand the complexity of the regulatory procedures and the need for time, but we also have our priorities and procedures, and we cannot respond positively to the request for long stays of aircraft and tanks at the Sofia airport,” Radev said on Friday, according to Bulgaria’s BTA news agency.
His remarks show that Bulgaria is not demanding an immediate withdrawal of the US military aircraft. Instead, Sofia will allow them to remain until the end of June, while refusing to approve a longer stay.
Visa dispute adds pressure on US-Bulgaria relations
Bulgaria has long sought visa-free access to the United States for its citizens. Most European Union nationals already benefit from such arrangements. Therefore, the issue remains politically sensitive in Sofia.
Radev recently raised the matter with US President Donald Trump, saying Bulgaria expected Washington to address it as a priority.
By connecting the aircraft issue to the visa dispute, the Bulgarian government appears to be signaling that military cooperation with the United States cannot be separated from broader bilateral concerns. The move also gives Sofia a way to press Washington without openly challenging its NATO obligations.
Bulgaria says remains committed to NATO
Even so, the announcement came shortly after Radev said Bulgaria intends to honor its NATO obligations and gradually raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product.
“We have reached the 2 percent threshold. We are determined to take the next step by gradually increasing our budget to 5 percent to meet our defense commitment,” Radev told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a meeting in Brussels, according to Bulgarian National Radio.
NATO Summit to Focus on Defense Spending
After meeting Radev, Rutte said on X that increasing defense spending and boosting defense production would be a “top priority” for the upcoming NATO summit.
The summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7 and 8.
Great to welcome 🇧🇬 Prime Minister Rumen Radev back to Brussels. Bulgaria is a valued Ally making important contributions to our shared security
You play a key role on the Alliance’s eastern flank, including in the Black Sea. And Bulgaria is stepping up defence spending &… pic.twitter.com/M4JHnnxw2y
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) May 28, 2026
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
