site.btaPM: Agreements with Turkiye Will Position Bulgaria as Energy Gateway to Central and Eastern Europe

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Thursday that agreements reached with Turkiye after recent talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will position Bulgaria as a gateway for energy supplies to Central and Eastern Europe. Radev was speaking at the start of the government's regular meeting.

Radev held a meeting with the Turkish President on Monday, when he arrived in Ankara for the NATO Summit. 

Radev said the NATO Summit had confirmed this prospect, adding that interest in energy deliveries through Bulgaria is strong and continues to grow.

The Prime Minister said the Bulgarian delegation had reaffirmed allied policies aimed at guaranteeing collective security during the summit. He noted that previous governments had committed Bulgaria to long-term annual financial contributions in support of Ukraine while leaving behind a large budget deficit.

Radev said he had informed Bulgaria's allies that the country would continue to support Ukraine according to its capabilities, but that no such financial capacity exists in 2026.

Speaking in the Turkish capital, Radev said Bulgaria is focusing its efforts on strengthening its own defence capabilities, while the current global challenges require unity within the Alliance.