Despite explicit warnings from Iran, the Bulgarian Parliament on Wednesday approved the government’s proposal to host American military forces at one of the country’s air bases.
Kabul 24: The decision was made as Iran had previously cautioned Bulgaria against allowing its territory to be used as a platform for potential operations against Tehran.
Nevertheless, Bulgarian lawmakers voted in favor of the plan with 136 votes in favor, 13 against, and 2 abstentions.Under the approved agreement, up to eight U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, along with 250 military personnel and support equipment, will be temporarily deployed at Bezmer Air Base for a period of 66 days, from July 24 to October 1.
Bezmer Air Base, located approximately 260 kilometers southeast of Sofia, is a joint-use facility under a 2006 defense cooperation agreement between Bulgaria and the United States.
Bulgaria, a member of both NATO and the European Union, is strategically positioned in the Balkans.U.S. officials describe the deployment as purely logistical and supportive in nature.
However, the presence of American refueling aircraft in the region has raised concerns about Bulgaria’s potential indirect role in U.S. operations in the Middle East.Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, speaking before the parliamentary vote, stressed that “any military operations in the Middle East launched from Bulgarian soil are absolutely out of the question.” He added that Bulgaria values its good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and emphasized that the KC-135 tankers would be used solely for logistical missions and air refueling outside Bulgarian airspace.
This development comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. Tehran has repeatedly warned neighboring and regional countries against allowing their territory to be used for hostile activities directed at Iran.
While Bulgaria maintains strong defense ties with the United States as a NATO ally, it has also sought to preserve balanced relations with countries in the Middle East and Eastern regions.
The parliamentary approval, however, clearly reflects Sofia’s prioritization of its NATO commitments.
The request for this temporary deployment originated from the U.S. Embassy in Sofia. Analysts view it as part of broader U.S. efforts to maintain logistical flexibility in the region during a period of strategic uncertainty.
