Despite the heightened geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the official diplomatic note sent from Tehran to Sofia, Bulgaria's national security is not threatened and our country will not engage in military action. This was assured by Deputy Minister of Defense Yordan Bozhilov on the air of Bulgaria ON AIR, commenting on the current conflicts and the positioning of American military aircraft on domestic territory. According to him, the country's defense is fully guaranteed by both our own armed forces and NATO allies.
In recent weeks, public attention has been focused on the presence of logistics and transport aircraft of the US Air Force at the capital's "Vasil Levski" airport, which also provoked an official reaction from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Deputy Minister of Defense, however, was categorical that such communications are routine in international relations.
"Notes are a normal means of diplomatic communication. Bulgaria and Iran have diplomatic contacts, I don't see anything extraordinary", commented Yordan Bozhilov. He recalled that our country has a framework agreement for defense cooperation with the United States, which allows for joint training and the use of four Bulgarian facilities.
"An individual decision is made for each entry and stay of foreign troops on Bulgarian territory. It is based on a very strict analysis" - emphasized Bozhilov, specifying that the vehicles are in our country solely for the purpose of servicing, strengthening NATO's eastern flank and increasing the training level of the army.
In the context of global security, Bozhilov also analyzed the key diplomatic shuttles that are currently underway. Following the two-week ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, direct talks between Washington and Tehran, led by US Vice President J.D. Vance, have begun in Islamabad.
The Deputy Minister noted that the high level of the American delegation means that the commitments made by Washington can be considered officially agreed. However, serious questions remain about the consolidation of power in Tehran. "We don't know who actually rules Iran. Will what will be made as a commitment by Iran then be respected? There is indeed hope and this is visible in the markets, prices immediately fell", he pointed out.
Regarding the calls for European NATO allies to actively participate in the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the Bulgarian position remains categorical. The alliance is a defense alliance focused on the Euro-Atlantic space, and our country has no intention of sending military contingents to the Middle East.
Despite the serious focus on the Middle East, Yordan Bozhilov warned that the war in Ukraine remains the main and most direct risk to Bulgaria's security. At the end of March, the caretaker cabinet, led by Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, signed a 10-year bilateral cooperation agreement with the country in Kiev.
"It opens up many opportunities, but does not provide for the sending of troops and the provision of assistance. All this will be carried out only under Bulgarian legislation," the deputy minister specified. The document covers a wide range of non-military areas, including energy, education and joint innovations in the defense industry.
Bozhilov also paid special attention to the changed nature of modern combat operations, emphasizing the critical role of unmanned aerial vehicles. "The war in Ukraine is practically being fought with drones, some of them based on artificial intelligence," he commented, adding that the Ministry of Defense is already implementing specialized programs to acquire both drones and modern anti-drone defense systems.