Bulgaria wants U.S. to allow visa-free travel for its nationals, says PM

"In my conversation with the American president, I insistently raised the issue of lifting U.S. visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens and I expect ‌this matter to be considered urgently," Radev said before chairing ‌a cabinet meeting. Here are some details: * NATO member Bulgaria hosts U.S. military aircraft in its capital, Sofia. * Bulgaria has said more than a dozen ⁠U.S.

Bulgarian Prime Minister ​Rumen Radev on Wednesday said ​he spoke to U.S. ‌President Donald ​Trump over the phone and brought up visa-free travel for Bulgarian nationals to the ‌U.S. "In my conversation with the American president, I insistently raised the issue of lifting U.S. visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens and I expect ‌this matter to be considered urgently," Radev said before chairing ‌a cabinet meeting.

Here are some details: * NATO member Bulgaria hosts U.S. military aircraft in its capital, Sofia.

* Bulgaria has said more than a dozen ⁠U.S. ​aircraft are authorised to ⁠transit through Bulgarian airspace and land in Sofia for refueling until the ⁠end of May. * Radev said he spoke to U.S. Defense Secretary ​Pete Hegseth and expected a request for U.S. military aircraft ⁠to remain in Sofia beyond May.

* Radev won a landslide election victory in ⁠a ​parliamentary election on April 19. * Some saw his campaign as Kremlin-friendly as he raised concerns about Bulgaria joining the euro ⁠zone and about military support for Ukraine.

* Radev denies he is pro-Russian ⁠and says ⁠that he will follow an EU path and has already met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.