site.btaParliament Authorizes Deployment of Up to 8 US KC-135 Aircraft, 250 Military Personnel at Bezmer Air Base

Parliament on Wednesday authorized the presence in Bulgaria of up to eight US Air Force KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft with their crews, up to 250 US military personnel carrying personal weapons and ammunition, and related airfield equipment at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 to October 1, 2026, in support of US operations in the Middle East. The proposal was submitted by the Council of Ministers.

Parliament also instructed the Prime Minister to organize the deployment of the personnel and equipment.

The decision was approved by 136 MPs: 121 from Progressive Bulgaria and 15 from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). Thirteen MPs voted against the proposal - the Vazrazhdane parliamentary group and one Progressive Bulgaria MP, while two Progressive Bulgaria MPs abstained.

GERB-UDF, Democratic Bulgaria and Continue the Change did not take part in the vote.

According to the report of Parliament's Defence Committee, implementation of the decision will not require any additional expenditure to be approved under the Defence Ministry's 2026 budget at the expense of other allocations within the State budget.