Bulgaria to end US military plane rights at end of June
Bulgaria will end the rights of U.S. military aircraft to stay in Sofia airport at the end of June, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Friday, reported Xinhua.
The decision was made after Radev spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month, insisting that the visa issue of Bulgarians be considered urgently, but has not received a positive answer.
Bulgarians are among the last European Union nationals not to have visa-free entry for tourist visits to the United States.
According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Radev said at the beginning of a cabinet meeting on Friday that there has been no positive response from the U.S. side on the visa issue.
He noted that Bulgaria has its own priorities and procedures, and cannot respond positively to the request on the extension of the rights of U.S. military aircraft at Sofia Airport, although he "fully understand the complexity of the regulatory procedures and the need for time".
US KC-135 Stratotanker jets have been based at Sofia since mid-February. In mid-May, six were present at the Bulgarian capital's airport, according to media reports.
5/29/2026 5:48:51 PM