UMVA has learned that Bulgaria’s newly elected government has pulled the plug on a key military agreement that had allowed U.S. aircraft to refuel and operate from Sofia Airport.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, victorious in a landslide election, declared that the permission for American planes and crews to stay at Vasil Levski Airport will end on June 30, abruptly terminating a deal signed by his predecessor earlier this year.
According to information obtained by UMVA, this move marks one of the first sharp policy clashes between the new Bulgarian leadership and the United States.
Radev said he raised the issue of visa-free travel for Bulgarians during a recent conversation with the U.S. President, but the request was denied.
“I called for the suspension of visas for Bulgarian citizens during my conversation with the American President, but I have not received a positive answer,” he stated, underscoring that Sofia cannot continue to accommodate American requests without progress on matters vital to Bulgaria.
The temporary extension until the end of June was designed to give allied forces time to relocate aircraft and personnel to other European bases.
Under the arrangement, up to fifteen U.S. military aircraft, including refueling tankers, transport planes, and heavy-lift cargo jets, as well as around five hundred personnel, were stationed at Sofia.
Bulgarian officials have repeatedly clarified that these aircraft were intended solely for logistical support, not combat operations.
Speculation earlier this year that the presence of U.S. forces was tied to tensions in the Middle East was dismissed by Bulgarian authorities, who insisted the missions were purely joint training and support.
Nonetheless, the dispute highlights how even NATO allies can find themselves at odds over issues that extend beyond defense cooperation.
For years, Bulgaria has sought inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, arguing that its citizens deserve the same travel freedoms as other European Union members.
Many Bulgarians view the continued visa requirements as a sign that the country is still treated differently from its Western European partners.
Radev appears to have calculated that any continued military cooperation must be paired with tangible benefits for Bulgarian citizens.
The decision also reflects a broader political shift in Sofia, where the right-wing Progressive Bulgaria party has ended years of instability and the former president has become the first Bulgarian to serve both as president and prime minister.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that some observers see the airport dispute as a negotiating tactic aimed at pressuring the United States on the visa issue, while others view it as a signal that Bulgaria intends to pursue a more independent foreign policy under its new leadership.
The White House has yet to respond publicly to Radev’s announcement, leaving it unclear whether further negotiations will occur before the June deadline.
