Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said that four US military aircraft currently linked to operations at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport are expected to return in the coming days, bringing the total presence to 14 aircraft. He stated that there is no indication of a security threat and rejected claims that the deployment is connected to training flights, arguing instead that the mission represents logistical support for US military activity.
Further reading: First U.S. Tanker Planes Leave Bulgaria as Sofia Deployment Begins to Wind Down
According to Stoyanov, the initial American notification described the presence of the aircraft as related to training flights, but he personally interprets the deployment as part of broader operational support functions. “My personal opinion is that they are logistical support for the actions of the American army,” he said, adding that the situation does not justify public concern or political tension.
He emphasized that the current deployment is a continuation of earlier government decisions and not a new or separate arrangement. “There are no differences between the declared March and the current decision of the IC – it is a continuation of the government's decision at the time,” Stoyanov noted, referring to the institutional authorization for the presence of the aircraft.
