site.btaUS Under Secretary of State Allen to Visit Bulgaria

US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Elizabeth Allen will travel to Norway, Bulgaria, and Czechia from October 27 through November 3, 2023, to deepen transatlantic cooperation on shared priorities, including the support for Ukraine, security in the Arctic and Black Sea regions, and countering foreign malign influence, the US State Department said on Friday. 

In Tromso, Norway, Allen will attend an opening ceremony of the United States’ northernmost diplomatic post. She will also confer with Norwegian State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson and Tromso Mayor Gunnar Wilhelmsen. 

In Sofia, Allen will hold a meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel to advance both countries’ partnership on addressing information manipulation and broader efforts to bolster bilateral ties in light of the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Bulgaria. While in Sofia, Allen will also launch a nearly USD 900,000 US government-funded programme, in collaboration with the Poynter Institute, aiming to advance media literacy. To demonstrate support for NATO ally Bulgaria and solidarity with Ukraine, she will also travel to the coastal city of Varna to discuss Black Sea security issues with Bulgarian Naval leadership and visit a US-supported centre assisting displaced Ukrainian refugees.

In Prague, Czechia, Allen will meet with Czech officials and participate in a Transatlantic Policy Forum.  Her conversations will focus on US’s strong partnership with the Czechia in support of Ukraine, the ongoing crisis between Israel and Hamas, and countering foreign malign influence, the State Department added.