Bulgaria's PM talks to NATO Secretary General about Financial Times article

Prime Minister Rumen Radev held a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in connection with the article published by the Financial Times on Wednesday. The newspaper reported that Iran was considering strikes in Europe if Donald Trump escalates the war. Bulgaria was also mentioned as a potential target. The Bulgarian authorities, however, denied that there was any threat to the country's national security.

The two discussed the security situation in Europe, with a focus on a potential risk of aggressive actions by Iran, according to reports in foreign media. Rutte personally confirmed NATO's full support and the readiness of the Alliance's defense forces and assets in the region to respond to and neutralize any threat against NATO member states. The readiness to provide reliable protection was also demonstrated by the recent successful interception of ballistic missiles headed toward Turkey. Any attack on a NATO member state will be categorically treated as an attack against the Alliance, with all actions arising from the North Atlantic Treaty, Rutte recalled.

The article also mentions Bulgaria because of the US military aircraft stationed at Bezmer Air Base. There are two of them, but in recent weeks the authorities have stated several times that the only activities they are carrying out are exercises and that Bulgaria is in no way involved in the conflict between the US and Iran.

According to two unnamed sources close to the Iranian regime, cited by the British daily Financial Times, Iran could potentially strike US bases in Europe in response to a possible new escalation.

The Bulgarian institutions subsequently responded. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov commented that he does not base his decisions on newspaper articles, but on documents received by the country's security services.

Following the reports, NATO also issued a response. In a statement to Reuters, the Alliance said it was ready to respond to any threat and would take all necessary measures to protect NATO countries.