site.btaUPDATED Turkiye Monitors Closely BOTAS Deal Developments, Says Turkish Foreign Minister in Sofia

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry, following a meeting earlier Thursday with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, "We share a common vision for deepening cooperation with Bulgaria."

"With the new government led by Rumen Radev, I believe excellent projects will be implemented between our two countries. It is important that our relations with Bulgaria remain at a high level across all areas of cooperation," he noted.

Addressing the situation surrounding the BOTAS deal, Fidan said Turkiye is closely monitoring developments. "President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has instructed that this matter be resolved as soon as possible," he said. The issue is currently being discussed by the energy ministries of both countries, but Fidan stressed that Bulgaria-Turkiye relations have the potential for much broader strategic projects. He added that efforts to resolve the matter fall within the remit of the relevant institutions.

In early 2023, Bulgaria’s state-owned Bulgargaz signed a 13‑year take‑or‑pay deal with Turkiye’s BOTAS, reserving up to 1.85 billion cu m/year of LNG capacity via the Strandzha–Malkoclar interconnection. The deal was finalized during the tenure of the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Galab Donev (currently Finance Minister), who was appointed by President Rumen Radev (in office 2017-2026, currently Prime Minister) - himself a strong proponent of the contract with BOTAS. Under the agreement the Bulgarian side agreed to pay BGN 1 million (EUR 512,000) daily for a period ending in 2035. If the agreement is rescinded, the Bulgarian company will be liable for close to BGN 3 billion in damages. In July, 2025, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov (in office 2025-2026) said that Bulgaria signed the agreement without the need for the additional gas supply which resulted in the country running into a debt of BGN 1.8 billion. In late May this year, Energy Minister Iva Petrova highlighted revising Bulgaria's contract with BOTAS as one of the Ministry's priorities and said she is due to meet with Turkish counterparts, expressing confidence that a workable solution will be found.

During the meeting, the Bulgarian and Turkish Foreign Ministers discussed strategic perspectives on security, transport, and logistics.

"We will continue our joint efforts to address security threats at our borders, including illegal migration," Fidan said.

He emphasized that connectivity and transport are also key pillars of bilateral cooperation. "Infrastructure, Europe's supply chains, and the Middle Corridor [Trans-Caspian International Transport Route] are of critical importance to the countries in our region," he noted.

Fidan said the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a new border crossing point north of Kapikule and discussed projects aimed at increasing border capacity. He also announced that Turkiye will begin oil and natural gas exploration activities in the Khan Tervel block in the Black Sea.

According to Fidan, the memorandum of cooperation in the electricity sector has provided fresh momentum to bilateral relations. He noted that trade between the two countries exceeded EUR 8.4 billion last year. He also highlighted the memorandum of understanding on green electricity transmission and power trade (formally: Memorandum of Understanding on the expansion of cross-border electricity transmission and cooperation in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and hydrogen and carbon capture technologies), signed in 2025, as an important contribution to regional energy security.

The ministers also discussed security in the Black Sea region. Fidan described the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group, established by Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye, as an important guarantor of safe maritime navigation and said its activities would be further expanded.

"Peace between Russia and Ukraine is of great importance for stability in our region. Turkiye will continue to provide effective support toward this goal," he added.

Fidan said the meeting also touched on Turkiye's European Union accession process. He stressed that EU defence and security initiatives should be conducted in an inclusive manner that also involves Turkiye, which he described as a strong NATO ally.

"The entire region benefits from the strengthening of our partnership. The Balkans are a region with which Turkiye shares deep historical ties," Fidan said. "The path to lasting stability lies in strengthening cooperation and dialogue among countries."

'We share a common vision for mutual visits and deeper cooperation with Bulgaria," he added. Fidan noted that Turkiye and Bulgaria are linked by close ties and that the Muslim community in Bulgaria plays an important role in strengthening those connections.

"The contribution of our compatriots to Bulgaria's political, social, and cultural life is a source of pride for us," he said.

Fidan added that joint efforts to preserve cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations would further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.

He also expressed appreciation for Bulgaria's support for Turkiye's EU membership aspirations and thanked the Bulgarian authorities for facilitating the smooth transit of Turkish citizens travelling from Europe to Turkiye during the summer holiday season.