Bulgaria's parliament on Wednesday approved a government proposal allowing the US military to use an air base in the country to support US military operations in the Middle East, with some MPs expressing concern that this could embroil Bulgaria in a war with Iran.
President Donald Trump's administration has faced opposition from several other European Union countries over the use of air bases to support its military operations against Iran, the AP reported.
Bulgarian MPs voted 136 in favor, 13 against, and 2 abstentions to allow the deployment of up to eight US KC-135 aircraft, along with 250 military personnel and support equipment, to Bezmer Air Base from Friday until October 1. No further approvals will be required for this decision.
According to the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Bulgaria, signed in 2006, the Besmer base is a joint-use base. Whenever the United States wants to use the base for a new purpose, approval from the Bulgarian Parliament is required.
