Bulgaria stands firm against the United States: If you don't give us visas, your military aircraft can only stay until the end of June!
On May 29, 2026, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Plevneliev announced at a cabinet meeting that U.S. military aircraft could no longer remain long-term at Sofia Airport as before. The existing agreement expires at the end of May, and Bulgaria will only extend it by one month, up to June 30. Plevneliev was very clear: since the United States has consistently refused to grant visa-free access to Bulgarian citizens, we cannot simply comply with American demands.
Plevneliev officially confirmed this decision during the cabinet meeting on May 29. According to news from the official state agency BTA, the government has passed a resolution to extend the stay of up to 15 U.S. military aircraft and related personnel until June 30, 2026.
Reuters reported that Plevneliev had personally raised the visa issue with the United States previously and urged Washington to take prompt action, but has yet to receive a positive response. Balkan Insight further disclosed that the aircraft primarily restricted are U.S. KC-135 aerial refueling planes, C-130 transport aircraft, and C-17 transport planes—these have been stationed in Sofia since mid-February, partly carrying out missions related to the situation involving Iran.
Bulgaria is an EU member state, yet it remains one of only a few EU countries still not eligible for visa-free travel to the United States. For years, Bulgaria has sought inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), but the U.S. has set a strict benchmark: the refusal rate must not exceed 3%.
In 2025, Bulgaria’s visa refusal rate dropped to 5.11%, which, although the best performance in nearly 20 years, still fell short of the target. As a result, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry had to launch domestic campaigns urging citizens to prepare their documents carefully, warning that every individual denied a visa would negatively affect the country's overall statistics.
The problem goes beyond mere numbers. Bulgaria has provided substantial strategic advantages to the United States: purchasing F-16 fighter jets, receiving Stinger armored vehicles, allowing U.S. military use of its airports, and cooperating with NATO operations in the Black Sea region. Yet, the U.S. has remained unwilling to budge on the visa issue.
Moreover, this incident has made many NATO allies realize clearly: if you help the U.S. without receiving tangible benefits, who would keep contributing?
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866779570022528/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author