Defence Committee approves deployment of US aircraft at Bezmer Air Base

Bulgaria's parliamentary Defence Committee has approved a Council of Ministers' draft decision allowing the temporary deployment of up to eight US aerial refuelling tanker aircraft and 250 US military personnel at Bezmer Air Base in southeastern Bulgaria to support operations in the Middle East.

The proposal was backed by 11 votes in favour, with one vote against and two abstentions. It now awaits final approval by the National Assembly, BTA reported.

The request for the deployment was submitted by the US Embassy in Sofia in a diplomatic note dated 17 July 2026. Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced the request on Monday.

US urgently requests deployment of tanker planes in Bulgaria

According to Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, the deployment does not pose a direct threat to Bulgaria's national security.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova