Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Bulgaria is giving the United States until the end of June to respond to its request for visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens, linking the issue to ongoing defense cooperation discussions with Washington.
Speaking at the opening of a Council of Ministers meeting, Radev also highlighted recent achievements by Bulgarian students, noting the success of a young competitor from the Sofia Mathematics High School who won first place in a major international science and engineering contest. He described the achievement as a strong signal of potential for the country’s future development.
“We have witnessed dynamic events in recent days, but for me the most important thing is the successes of our young people,” Radev said, emphasizing that Bulgaria’s progress is closely tied to investment in education and talent.
He also referred to his recent communication with the U.S. president, saying he had raised the issue of lifting visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens. According to him, no positive response has been received so far, though he acknowledged the complexity of the administrative process and the time such decisions require.
At the same time, Radev noted that Bulgaria has its own strategic considerations. He said Sofia cannot support an extended presence of aircraft and tanker operations at Sofia Airport under current conditions. As a result, the government is expected to approve an extension of their stay only until the end of June, giving allied forces time to adjust plans and identify alternative arrangements.
