Bulgaria Ends U.S. Refueling Access Over Visa Dispute by June 30, 2026

Bulgaria Ends U.S. Refueling Access Over Visa Dispute

Bulgaria will end its authorization for U.S. refueling aircraft to operate from Sofia Airport by June 30, 2026. This decision comes as a direct response to the United States’ continued refusal to grant visa-free travel privileges to Bulgarian citizens. Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that an additional month was provided to allow U.S. allies to reschedule and find alternative locations for their operations.

The U.S. forces had been operating under a Bulgarian government authorization at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport. This arrangement, initially approved earlier in the year, allowed for a limited U.S. presence in the Bulgarian capital. The extension of access for one month, until June 30, 2026, sets a firm deadline for the relocation of aircraft and personnel.

Background of the Agreement

Bulgaria’s government approved Decision No. 205 on March 4, 2026. This decision permitted the non-military deployment of up to 15 U.S. aircraft, a support staff of up to 500 personnel, and associated equipment at Sofia Airport. The current one-month extension allows these operations to continue until the new deadline.

U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft had been stationed in Sofia since mid-February 2026. As of mid-May 2026, six KC-135 aircraft remained at the airport. Prime Minister Radev mentioned that he had discussed the issue of visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens with U.S. President Donald Trump, but no positive outcome was achieved. Bulgarian officials have clearly linked the termination of the refueling aircraft authorization to this ongoing visa dispute.

Political Conditions and Operational Limits

The agreement allowed the United States to use Sofia as a refueling point without establishing a formal military base. Bulgaria’s government had carefully structured the authorization with specific limits on the number of aircraft, personnel, and equipment. This approach provided Bulgaria with control over the duration of the deployment and the ability to attach political conditions to its extension.

The government’s decision to link the final month of access to the unresolved visa issue, rather than the operational needs of the aircraft, highlights the political nature of the dispute. Prime Minister Radev’s comments framed the deadline as both a diplomatic message and a practical notice, suggesting a managed withdrawal rather than an abrupt halt to operations.

Scale of Operations

The numbers outlined in Decision No. 205 indicate the scale of operations Bulgaria was prepared to accommodate. The authorization permitted up to 15 U.S. aircraft and as many as 500 support personnel to operate from Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, along with related equipment. However, by mid-May 2026, the actual number of KC-135 aircraft present was less than half of the permitted ceiling.

The Visa Issue at the Forefront

The visa dispute has now become the central point of contention. Bulgaria has made it clear that access for U.S. refueling aircraft will not extend beyond June 30, 2026, due to the U.S. refusal to grant visa-free travel to Bulgarian citizens. This situation creates a limited timeframe for operational adjustments. The one-month extension provides a brief period for the current deployment before its definitive end.

The timeline of events shows a rapid development in 2026. KC-135 aircraft began operating from Sofia in mid-February 2026. The government formalized the terms of the agreement in Decision No. 205 on March 4, 2026, and the final extension now sets June 30, 2026, as the termination date. The authorization was not designed as an open-ended arrangement but rather a specific deployment with clear limits and a defined end point. Unless the political dispute is resolved, U.S. refueling operations in the Bulgarian capital will cease after June 30, 2026.

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