site.btaDefence Minister: Renovated Air Base Can Now Host Allied Aircraft for Airspace Policing

Prior to the renovation of Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria was unable to host allied aircraft for air policing, but now it can, said Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov in Parliament on Tuesday in relation to airspace protection.

Zapryanov explained that there has been a NATO decision in place for several years regarding enhanced air policing for Bulgaria and Romania, due to the situation on the Eastern flank. Currently, such a mission is being carried out in Romania.

“We will expect one of the member states, any NATO member, to notify Allied Command of its intention to take up such a mission. We are now in a position to organize it,” said the Minister.