Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia are seeking to deepen cooperation in security, energy, trade, investment and other areas, Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and President Iliana Iotova and Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef Al Saud said during meetings in Sofia on Wednesday.
Radev reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and end hostilities in the Middle East. He condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that had caused loss of innocent lives and injuries, the government’s information service said.
The Prime Minister and the Saudi minister agreed that ensuring peace and security was a shared priority for the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova also attended the meeting.
Radev described Saudi Arabia as a leading political and economic power in the Middle East and a key Bulgarian partner in the Persian Gulf. He said there was considerable potential to develop bilateral relations in investment, trade, transport, science and education, the defence industry and energy.
The visit was an opportunity not only to reaffirm the friendship between the two countries but also to strengthen cooperation against organized crime and terrorism, expand information sharing, and work together to protect critical infrastructure and citizens, Radev said.
He also highlighted better transport, energy and digital connectivity with neighbouring regions as important for stability, reliable supply chains and secure energy supplies to Europe.
In this context, Radev stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia’s participation in a high-level connectivity summit to be held in Bulgaria. He referred to a Saudi-proposed project for the supply of energy resources that could establish a new corridor for diversifying energy supplies to Europe.
Prince Abdulaziz expressed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to upgrade relations with Bulgaria. He said his meeting with Demerdzhiev had focused on opportunities to expand cooperation in security and counterterrorism, adding that Bulgaria’s current political stability opened up new prospects for collaboration in other areas of mutual interest.
At their separate meeting, Demerdzhiev and Prince Abdulaziz discussed efforts to combat international drug trafficking and cross-border organized crime. They noted the positive results achieved so far by their respective agencies and identified scope for closer cooperation through the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC), in which Saudi Arabia participates as an operational partner.
Other areas discussed included counterterrorism, cybercrime, money laundering and corruption, the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in police work, and expanded professional exchanges and specialized training, the Interior Ministry said.
Demerdzhiev highlighted Bulgaria’s strategic position on the European Union’s external border and its role as a partner in tackling criminal networks linking Europe and the Middle East.
“Our common task is to turn political trust into practical cooperation that delivers tangible results for the security of citizens in both countries,” he said.
The two ministers agreed that the trust already established provided a basis for further cooperation in combating cross-border crime and terrorism, ensuring border security, training police officers and strengthening capacity to fight cybercrime.
Prince Abdulaziz thanked his hosts for their hospitality and highlighted Bulgaria’s consistent support for Saudi Arabia in the face of contemporary security threats. He described Bulgaria as a reliable partner in all areas of mutual interest, including security and internal affairs.
At her meeting with the Saudi minister, President Iliana Iotova described Saudi Arabia as one of Bulgaria’s most promising partners in the Middle East. She said closer cooperation in security could provide a basis for expanding the partnership more broadly.
Iotova noted that the conflict in the Persian Gulf and disruptions to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz threatened the security of supplies worldwide. She highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role as a stable factor in efforts to normalize and de-escalate the situation in the region.
The President also pointed to opportunities for cooperation in innovation, saying that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 modernization and development strategy could open the way for Bulgarian companies with expertise in artificial intelligence and high technology to take part in various projects.
Bulgaria is also interested in the Future Investment Initiative, a forum launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to promote contacts between the public and private sectors, Iotova said. A direct air link between Sofia and Riyadh would create new opportunities for business, tourism and cultural exchange, she added.
Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the Crown Prince’s congratulations to Iotova on her election as President of Bulgaria and expressed optimism about the development of bilateral relations.
Iotova renewed her invitation to Mohammed bin Salman to visit Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia Seek to Expand Cooperation in Security, Energy and Trade 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-04 09:02:57

World news, international news, global news, latest world news, breaking world news, world politics, international politics. Global economy, international business, world markets, global events, international relations, geopolitical news, global affairs. Europe news, European news, EU news, European politics, Balkan news, United States news, UK news, Asia news. Bulgarians abroad, Bulgarian diaspora, Bulgarians overseas, Bulgarian communities abroad, Bulgarian citizens abroad, Bulgarian expats, Bulgarian emigrants. Bulgarian diaspora news, news for Bulgarians abroad, Bulgaria abroad, Bulgarians in Europe, Bulgarians in Germany, Bulgarians in the UK. Bulgarians in Spain, Bulgarians in Italy, Bulgarians in France, Bulgarians in the USA, Bulgarians in Canada, Bulgarians in Greece. Bulgarian communities worldwide, Bulgarian schools abroad, Bulgarian culture abroad, Bulgarian businesses abroad, Bulgarian students abroad, Bulgarian workers abroad. Consular services Bulgaria, Bulgarian embassies, Bulgarian citizens overseas, Bulgarian elections abroad, Bulgarian voting abroad, Bulgarian nationals abroad, Bulgaria international relations.

BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-11-04 09:02:57