Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov described the recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Rumen Radev and U.S. President Donald Trump as a sign of a new stage in Bulgarian-American relations, arguing that communication is now taking place “at the presidential level” rather than through intermediaries. Speaking to Bulgarian media BNT, Hristov said the direct contact represented institutional recognition and an opportunity for Sofia to raise strategic issues directly with Washington.
He pointed in particular to the long-discussed visa issue, emphasizing that Bulgarians had expected progress for years. “The fact that President Radev raised this decades-old problem is an important moment,” Hristov said, presenting the conversation as a diplomatic achievement for Bulgaria.
At the same time, he criticized previous models of cooperation with the United States, referring to the deployment of American aircraft at Sofia Airport. According to Hristov, Bulgaria’s earlier governments accepted requests from Washington too readily. “We inherited relationships in which Bulgaria simply said ‘yes’ without even asking questions,” he remarked, adding that the current government wants a more balanced dialogue.
