Ministers Reject Speculation over US Aircraft at Sofia Airport; Parliament Calls on PM to Attend Hearing 2026

Balgarianovinite.com Government officials rejected speculation linking the presence of US military aircraft at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport to non-NATO operations, while Parliament on Thursday obliged caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov to participate in a hearing on the matter. 
Earlier in the day, Transport Minister Korman Ismailov convened a coordination meeting with representatives of the defence sector, civil aviation authorities, the airport operator and the US Embassy to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of Sofia Airport amid an ongoing NATO partner mission. Participants reported that airport operations continue at full capacity, without disruption or changes to civil flight schedules. Authorities stressed the need for timely public communication to counter speculation and disinformation. 
During a parliamentary hearing requested by Vazrazhdane, caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said the deployment of up to 15 US Air Force aircraft from February 17 to May 31, 2026, is linked to training activities supporting NATO’s enhanced vigilance measures and is not related to current or planned military operations. She explained that the deployment follows a diplomatic request from the US Embassy and was authorized under the Act regulating the presence of allied forces in Bulgaria. Neynsky emphasized that the aircraft have a logistical function, primarily aerial refuelling, and do not possess offensive capabilities. 
Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov likewise described attempts to associate the aircraft with operations outside NATO’s collective defence plans as speculation. He said up to 15 aircraft and approximately 500 service members have been authorized for a temporary, non-combat presence, with the aircraft stationed at Sofia Airport and supported by the adjacent Vrazhdebna Air Base. As of February 25, ten refuelling aircraft were present, he noted, adding that their flights are scheduled in advance and have not caused delays or changes to civilian air traffic. Zapryanov underlined that Sofia Airport remains fully operational and that Bulgaria is acting within its allied commitments and legal framework. 
Later on Thursday, Parliament voted to oblige caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov to attend a hearing on the US aircraft and tensions in the Middle East. The proposal was put forward by There Is Such a People Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov. Representatives of Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria opposed the move, accusing TISP of targeting the caretaker cabinet. The hearing was attended by the foreign and defence ministers and by the CEO of Sofia Airport. 
The Defence Ministry had earlier announced that US Air Force aircraft were deployed to Sofia Airport in connection with a military exercise.
What the Constitutional Court said
In 2003, the Constitutional Court was asked by the President to issue an interpretation of constitutional provisions governing parliamentary approval for the entry, transit or stationing of foreign forces and the deployment of Bulgarian troops abroad (Art.84 of the Constitution), in the context of Bulgaria’s commitments arising from then prospective NATO membership and broader Euro-Atlantic integration. 
The Court ruled that allied troops present in the country under a ratified international treaty of a political or military nature cannot be considered “foreign troops” within the meaning of the Constitution, provided their presence is linked to the fulfilment of allied obligations – and Parliament’s approval was unnecessary.
In its decision, the Court held that once Parliament has ratified, promulgated and brought into force an international treaty under Article 85 of the Constitution, the obligations arising from that treaty take precedence over the requirement for case-by-case parliamentary authorization under Article 84 of the Constitution. Therefore, additional approval by the National Assembly is not required for the presence of allied forces or the deployment of Bulgarian troops abroad when these actions stem directly from treaty-based commitments, including collective defence and peacekeeping operations.  Ministers Reject Speculation over US Aircraft at Sofia Airport; Parliament Calls on PM to Attend Hearing 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-26 19:01:18 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law