Bulgarian Parliament Officially Approved U.S. Aircrafts
The Bulgarian Parliament Officially Approved U.S. Aircraft Deployment at Bezmer Base
The Bulgarian National Assembly approved the deployment of U.S. military tanker aircraft and personnel at Bezmer Air Base, authorizing support for American operations in the Middle East following a formal diplomatic request from Washington.
The resolution passed after nearly three hours of debate, with 135 lawmakers initially voting in favor, 13 against, and two abstaining. After “Revival” leader Kostadin Kostadinov requested a repeat vote, the proposal was approved again, receiving support from 124 deputies from Progressive Bulgaria and 15 from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). One Progressive Bulgaria (PB) lawmaker voted against the measure, while two abstained. Twelve deputies from “Revival” opposed the resolution, while GERB, Democratic Bulgaria (DB), and We Continue the Change (PP) did not participate in the final vote.
The adopted resolution authorizes the temporary deployment of up to eight KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, as many as 250 U.S. military personnel with personal weapons and ammunition, and the necessary airport equipment at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 through October 1, 2026.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov attended the parliamentary session at the request of the opposition. Before the vote, lawmakers also rejected a proposal to broadcast the debate live on national television and radio.
Stoyanov described the decision as difficult but necessary, saying the government had acted to protect Bulgaria‘s national interests while maintaining transparency. He stressed that the deployment would not undermine Bulgaria‘s sovereignty because Parliament retained the authority to approve the number of aircraft, personnel, and the duration of their stay.
“This is one of those decisions that is not easy to make, but it is necessary at this moment,” the defense minister said.
He emphasized that the aircraft are intended exclusively for aerial refueling and logistical support, not combat missions. “No offensive weapons systems of any kind will be deployed on Bulgarian territory. Their temporary presence does not make Bulgaria a party to the military conflict,” Stoyanov said, adding that the government had secured guarantees from its strategic partner to minimize security risks and had taken additional national and allied measures to protect the country.
According to Stoyanov, the American request is based on the bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in 2006 and made indefinite in 2016. He added that any deviation from the parameters approved by Parliament would require fresh authorization from the Bulgarian authorities.
During the debate, Prime Minister Radev rejected accusations that his government was pursuing contradictory policies. He argued that previous governments had misled the public by describing the earlier deployment of tanker aircraft at Sofia Airport as part of a military exercise.
“The note we received this time was the real note,” Radev said. “The law requires that Parliament approve a request of this nature, and we are not hiding behind anyone. We are proposing the deployment of up to eight aircraft at Bezmer, not 15 aircraft at Sofia Airport.”
Radev also criticized the previous decision to station tanker aircraft at Sofia’s civilian airport alongside commercial passenger traffic. He argued that large military aircraft carrying significant amounts of fuel should never have been based so close to the capital and its busy terminals.
The prime minister referred to remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had publicly thanked Bulgaria for supporting U.S. operations in the Middle East. According to Radev, Rubio’s comments confirmed that the earlier deployment had not been linked solely to military exercises, as previously claimed.
Radev maintained that Bulgaria‘s broader foreign policy position had not changed. “I have been saying for years that the war in Ukraine has no military solution and that diplomacy and negotiations are the only path forward,” he told lawmakers. He insisted the government opposed expanding conflicts through additional weapons and funding while remaining committed to honoring Bulgaria‘s treaty obligations.
“If we want to be a reliable ally and an honest partner, we must honor the agreements we have signed. The United States is our main security ally. If we fail to meet our obligations, how can we expect them to meet theirs?” Radev said in his closing remarks.
The parliamentary debate exposed divisions across the political spectrum.
Former Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev of GERB criticized the government’s handling of the issue, arguing that Bulgaria should maintain a consistent foreign and defense policy. He accused the ruling majority of hypocrisy and political opportunism but said refusing support to an ally during a crisis would damage Bulgaria‘s credibility.
