NATO has reaffirmed its commitment to defend Bulgaria after Iran reportedly threatened the country over plans to host U.S. military aircraft at a Bulgarian air base.
Speaking to Euronews, NATO Colonel Martin O’Donnell said the alliance stands ready to protect Bulgaria if it comes under attack, emphasizing that collective defense remains a core principle of the alliance.
“We saw when Iran launched missiles toward Turkey — a NATO ally — and NATO protected its territory in all of those instances. We will continue to defend against any threat posed by Iran or anyone else against this defensive alliance,” O’Donnell said.
According to reports, the Bulgarian government is considering stationing U.S. military aircraft at the Bezmer Air Base, located approximately 257 kilometers southeast of the capital, Sofia.
The reported Iranian threats come amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran. The United States and Iran have intensified hostilities after a temporary ceasefire agreement signed a month ago collapsed, raising concerns about the possibility of a return to full-scale conflict.
NATO has not announced any changes to its force posture in Bulgaria but reiterated that the alliance remains prepared to defend all member states against external threats.
