site.btaEnergy, Security, Emerging Technologies Feature on Agenda of Bulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue Third Session

The third session of the Strategic Dialogue between Bulgaria and the United States was held at the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. It was attended by Christopher Smith, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Europe.

In his opening remarks Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that energy takes a central role in Bulgaria’s strategic dialogue with the United States. “We are strongly committed to further deepening cooperation with the US in civil nuclear energy, to creating a more sustainable energy market, to strengthening Bulgaria’s role as a regional energy hub, and to generating even more opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Also, Zhelyazkov described cooperation in security and defence as the foundation of the strategic partnership, praising US support for the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

Bulgaria Is First EU Member State Engaged in Strategic Dialogue with US under President Trump's Administration

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said that Bulgaria is the first EU Member State with which the United States has held a strategic dialogue under the current administration of President Donald Trump. In Georgiev's words, this reflects both the strategic nature of bilateral relations and the high degree of trust and closeness between the two countries.

Georgiev noted that the strategic dialogue began in a different global environment and that today both countries face a wide range of new challenges, adding that, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, there is a genuine opportunity to achieve a just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s security.

For his part US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Europe and Policy and Regional Affairs Christopher Smith said: "I think it is very fitting and very important that the first Strategic Dialogue that we have held with an EU Member State in this administration is today with Bulgaria."

Smith noted that the bilateral partnership increases regional security, protects the borders of the two countries from illicit trade and illegal migration, ensures energy security, and promotes commercial opportunities and innovation to increase their joint prosperity.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State further highlighted how the US sees this partnership advancing in each of these areas: energy, border security, regional security, emerging technologies.

Later in the day, Smith met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

In a post on X, President Radev described the talks as productive, focusing on opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in investments, defence, and energy.