Defense Minister: No Direct Threat to Bulgaria from Planned US Aircraft Deployment

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said he has "absolutely no concerns" about the proposed deployment of up to eight US tanker aircraft at the Bezmer airbase, emphasizing that the facility is already designated for joint use under the bilateral defense cooperation agreement between Bulgaria and the United States. Speaking to reporters in parliament ahead of a meeting of the parliamentary Defense Committee, Stoyanov said the facts surrounding the proposal would become clear during the discussions.

The committee convened for an extraordinary session to examine the government's request for parliamentary approval to allow the temporary presence of up to eight US tanker aircraft, as well as up to 250 American military personnel, at Bezmer. During the hearing, Progressive Bulgaria lawmaker Ivan Dimitrov questioned why the matter required a vote in the National Assembly rather than a decision by the Ministry of Defense, and also asked why Bezmer had been selected as the location.

Stoyanov explained that Bulgarian law requires parliamentary authorization for the entry and deployment of allied or foreign military forces on Bulgarian territory. He said the government's proposal followed an assessment of the official US request and security analyses. "There are risks, but there is no direct threat to our national security," the defense minister stated.

He acknowledged that security risks always exist and noted that allied assessments identify potential threats, including the possibility of terrorist attacks. As an example, he referred to the attack at Sarafovo Airport, while stressing that military experts continue to assess there is no immediate danger to Bulgaria's national security. Stoyanov also told lawmakers he was prepared to answer additional questions behind closed doors if the committee wanted more detailed information about the security assessments.

A major point of debate centered on the justification for the deployment. Georg Georgiev of GERB-SDF, who previously served as foreign minister in the Zhelyazkov government, recalled that the earlier US request to station tanker aircraft at Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport had been presented as being linked to exercises. He argued that the current proposal appeared different and suggested parliament was now being asked to authorize participation in a military operation.

Stoyanov rejected that interpretation and insisted the previous explanation had not reflected reality. "I have no desire to lie to the committee. Absolutely no exercise was conducted in any way," he said. According to the minister, the US diplomatic note explicitly requested the deployment of the aircraft at Bezmer, adding that American authorities have not yet decided how the aircraft will be refueled.

The defense minister also criticized the previous administration over its handling of the earlier deployment. He argued that the motive behind both requests from Washington was identical and questioned the claim that the previous mission had been connected to military exercises. "If there were exercises, I want to ask my colleagues what exercises they participated in, what missions were conducted, who was the head of the exercises, and when the planning conferences took place," Stoyanov said, noting that military exercises require extensive preparation and cannot be organized overnight.

Lawmakers from several parliamentary groups also questioned whether the deployment could draw Bulgaria into the conflict in the Middle East. Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria asked whether the government's position represented a shift from previous statements made by Progressive Bulgaria, while Radoslav Ribarski of Continue the Change questioned whether hosting the aircraft could make Bulgaria a legitimate military target.

Stoyanov dismissed those concerns, arguing that the country would not participate directly in any military operation. "Bulgaria is not participating in the operation with either forces or means," he said, adding that the earlier deployment of US aircraft at Sofia Airport had likewise not turned Bulgaria into a military target. He reiterated that, despite existing risks, "there is no direct threat to our national security."

Revival lawmaker Ivelin Parvanov argued that the country under attack ultimately decides what constitutes a legitimate target and warned that the deployment could increase risks for Bulgaria. Stoyanov maintained his position that the security assessment had not changed.

Representatives of other parliamentary groups also weighed in. MRF lawmaker Ivo Tsanev said Bulgaria should continue acting as "a predictable ally" within NATO. Concluding the discussion, Stoyanov noted that while the location of the deployment had been specified by the United States, no final decision has yet been made regarding the logistical arrangements for refueling the aircraft.