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l We need to build a stronger naval center and navy
l Washington against the Chinese in the Bulgarian ports
l Bulgaria is useful in keeping Turkey in NATO
Bulgaria and the United States must oppose Russia’s provocations and aggressive actions in the Black Sea through joint action. This was announced Thursday by Under Secretary of State Clark Cooper.
Russia is gradually taking control of the Black Sea, and the threats are both by air and by sea, he explained.
There is a real danger that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea will be restricted not only to the military but also to merchant ships, Cooper warned. Russia has gradually increased its military presence in the region, focusing not only on Ukraine and Crimea, but also on a serious threat to the smaller countries in the region, he added.
A naval coordination center will be established in Varna to collect and process information on activity in the Black Sea. It should also be used by other NATO allies. And Bulgaria needs to increase its naval capacity, the US Under Secretary of State said, but without specifying whether this includes quick deals for new ships. Bulgaria is currently about to sign an agreement with the German company Lursen for the construction of 2 new patrol boats.
It is very important to keep Turkey in NATO and the Western world, because Russia has always aimed to separate it, Cooper added. According to him, Bulgaria could be useful in trying to keep Turkey in NATO.
China is also interested in conquering the Black Sea, Cooper said. However, Beijing’s policy is to control mainly commercial ports. In recent years, China’s interest in investing mainly in the port of Varna has increased along the One Belt, One Road initiative. In 2019, Chinese delegations visited the port of Varna several times with options for a concession or the construction of a Chinese terminal. Don’t give China ports, if you give them control over a port, you lose your national sovereignty, Cooper urged.
Part of the US diplomat’s program was to inspect military bases in Bulgaria, where the United States would invest in infrastructure to deepen military cooperation, he added.
They give us two old F-16s to train mechanics
The United States wants to donate two F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria, the US embassy said. The approval of the Congress of the United States is awaited.
Both machines should be used in Bulgaria for training mechanics, for
be ready on arrival
of those bought in Bulgaria
eight new fighters
“The acquisition of the fighters also provides large-scale resources for our joint mission to ensure security in the Black Sea region,” the US Embassy said in announcing the gift.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov demanded a meeting with Undersecretary of State Clark Cooper for a faster implementation of industrial cooperation related to the purchase of American combat aircraft. So our country should
to acquire knowledge and increase
its competitiveness,
claims the prime minister. The first 100 million BGN has already been delivered for the modernization of the Graf Ignatievo air base, he stressed to the American.
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