US Boeing KC-135 tanker aircraft are expected to arrive at Bulgaria's Bezmer Air Base on Thursday as part of a temporary deployment approved by the National Assembly to support US military operations in the Middle East.
Under the parliamentary decision, up to eight aerial refueling aircraft, along with as many as 250 US military personnel, ground crews and support staff equipped with standard service weapons, will be stationed at the base until October 1, 2026.
Regional Governor Georgi Chalakov sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that the aircraft are intended exclusively for aerial refueling missions. According to him, the deployment does not involve combat or strike aircraft and does not represent a permanent US military presence in Bulgaria.
The arrival of the American contingent has nevertheless triggered growing opposition among residents of nearby communities. A petition launched in the village of Bezmer is calling for the deployment to be reconsidered, with local residents expressing fears that the air base could become connected to a broader international conflict.
Bezmer Mayor Rosen Rusev said the protests would continue, arguing that local people remain concerned about the possible consequences of hosting military assets linked to operations in the Middle East. Support for the petition has spread beyond the village, with the mayors of several nearby municipalities and settlements, including Bezmer, Kozarevo, Malomir and Bolyarsko, backing the initiative. The petition is expected to be presented to Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov.
