The administration of US President Donald Trump faced resistance from some other European Union (EU) states regarding the use of air bases to support the war with Iran.
Bulgarian lawmakers, with 136 votes in favor, 13 against, and two abstentions, allowed the deployment of up to eight US KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, as well as 250 troops and necessary equipment, at Bezmer Air Force Base from Friday until October 1. No further approvals are needed.
Under the 2006 US-Bulgaria defense agreement, Bezmer Base, located approximately 260 km southeast of the capital Sofia, is a jointly used facility. Each time the US wants to use the base for new purposes, parliamentary approval is required.
The new military deployment follows a request from the US Embassy. On Wednesday, the US side had not yet commented on the situation.
Before the vote, Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that “it is categorically impossible for military operations in the Middle East to be carried out from Bulgarian territory.”
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In television reports, R. Radev stated at a government meeting that “the deployment of US tankers at Bezmer Air Force Base is solely for logistical missions related to aerial refueling outside Bulgarian airspace.”
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told lawmakers before the vote that all necessary measures had been taken at both national and allied levels to ensure that Bulgaria would not be drawn into any conflict.
“We requested and received guarantees from our strategic partner aimed at reducing risks to our national security,” said D. Stoyanov.
