site.btaBulgaria Considers Turkiye Key Partner in Range of Areas, PM Radev Says

Bulgaria considers Turkiye not only a neighbor and friend but also a key partner in a range of areas, including security, migration, energy, and transport connectivity, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday. "There are emerging fields with significant potential for cooperation, such as high technology and artificial intelligence," Radev added, as quoted by the Government Information Service.

Prime Minister Radev described Fidan’s visit to Sofia as a further step toward deepening bilateral relations. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible business environment in Bulgaria and highlighted the strong presence of Turkish investment in the country. More than 2,200 Turkish companies are active in Bulgaria, operating in manufacturing, trade, logistics, and services. This places Turkiye among Bulgaria’s leading trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching a record EUR 7.7 billion in 2024.

Energy and transport connectivity were also among the key topics discussed during the meeting between Radev and Fidan.

The talks focused on both countries' shared challenges as NATO allies and their commitment to security, particularly in the Black Sea. A notable example of this cooperation is the joint efforts of Bulgaria, Turkiye, and Romania within the Mine Countermeasure Black Sea Task Group, which plays an important role in ensuring freedom of navigation and strengthening regional stability.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Fidan met with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova. "We share a common vision for deepening cooperation with Bulgaria," he said during a press conference following the meeting.