US Aircraft Deployment at Sofia Airport Not Linked to Combat Operations, Bulgarian Officials Say

Sofia, Bulgaria – U.S. Military aircraft stationed at Sofia Airport are not involved in any current or planned combat operations, Bulgarian officials affirmed during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The deployment, authorized for a period extending from February 17 to May 31, 2026, is related to training activities and enhanced vigilance measures within the NATO alliance.

US Embassy Request and Authorization

According to Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky, the U.S. Embassy initially requested permission on February 17, 2026, to deploy up to 15 aircraft to Sofia Airport. The request included support for access to the airport runway for military personnel. This request was made in connection with activities aimed at bolstering the NATO Alliance’s vigilance.

The Minister of Defence granted the requested permission, acting in accordance with the Act on Passage through and Presence within the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of Allied and of Foreign Armed Forces.

Logistical Support and Training Focus

Both Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Neynsky emphasized that the deployed aircraft are transport planes without offensive capabilities. They perform logistical roles, including in-air refueling, and are primarily supporting training exercises.

“The aircraft at Vasil Levski Airport belong to the US Air Force and support training activities. They perform logistical roles, including in-air refueling, and are not assigned to combat missions,” Neynsky stated.

Zapryanov dismissed speculation linking the deployment to potential military operations, including a possible strike on Iran, characterizing such claims as provocative and false.

Civilian Airport Use and NATO Vigilance

Sofia Airport is being utilized for parking and maintenance of the aircraft due to capacity limitations at military infrastructure.

The deployment is part of a broader effort to strengthen NATO’s security and deterrence posture on its eastern flank, prompted by Russian aggression against Ukraine. Since 2022, NATO has increased air defense missions, deployed forces on a rotational basis, and expanded logistical requirements.

Bulgaria’s geostrategic location in the Black Sea region and the Balkans necessitates increased alliance commitments, including exercises conducted at training grounds in Novo Selo and air bases in Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo. Civilian infrastructure, such as Sofia Airport, may be used when military air bases reach capacity.

Parliamentary Oversight

Regarding questions about why the National Assembly was not directly consulted, Neynsky explained that, according to a Constitutional Court inquiry, a decision by the Council of Ministers is sufficient for allied forces, particularly given the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States.