Strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank
The United States sends a contingent of troops to Bulgaria
03/19/2022, 6:28 p.m
Located on the Black Sea, Bulgaria is of particular importance for NATO’s eastern flank. The USA now want to strengthen them with a contingent of troops there. During the first visit to Bulgaria by a US Secretary of Defense for a long time, however, he was also greeted with tones critical of NATO.
The USA will send a contingent of troops to Bulgaria to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said this after talks with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Sofia. This contingent is to be under the command of NATO’s supreme commander in Europe. Petkov assured that there would be no arms deliveries from Bulgaria to Ukraine. “We have not spoken in any way about military support for Ukraine,” he said during a televised press conference.
However, Bulgaria will continue to provide humanitarian support to the Ukrainians, Petkov stressed. US Secretary of Defense Austin praised Bulgaria’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Austin discussed with Bulgarian Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov the multinational battle group set up by Bulgaria, which is under NATO command, the Defense Ministry said in Sofia. The announced US contingent is to become part of this combat group. Both ministers visited Bulgarian and US military personnel during training at a compound in eastern Bulgaria on Friday.
Demonstrations against NATO
During Austin’s talks in Sofia, supporters of the pro-Russian nationalist party Vasrashdane (Rebirth) protested at the Defense Ministry and at government headquarters against NATO and possible arms sales to Ukraine. The demonstrators carried Bulgarian and Russian flags. They chanted: “NATO out”.
Prior to Austin’s visit, there was excitement in Bulgaria over international media reports that Bulgaria could hand over its Soviet-designed S-300 anti-aircraft system to Ukraine. President Rumen Radev warned against a decision to deliver arms to Ukraine and thus against Bulgaria’s involvement in the war.