The U.S. Defense Department on Thursday approved a $1.67 billion sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria to bolster its air force as regional threats increase following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said: “This proposed arms sale enhances the ability of the Bulgarian Air Force to routinely deploy modern fighter jets in the Black Sea region. Bulgaria’s ability to respond to current and future threats.”
The approval of the arms sale comes amid growing speculation that one of Washington’s NATO allies may supply Ukraine with MiG-29 (MIG-29) fighter jets to counter Russian forces, a move that might involve the United States supplying the ally American planes in exchange.
Bulgaria is one of three NATO members using the MiG-29 fighter jet, which Ukrainian pilots can fly. The other two countries are Poland and Slovakia.
But U.S. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby played down the suggestion that it might have something to do with Bulgaria’s supply of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine when asked regarding the F-16 arms sale.
Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said there was no such agreement during a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Bulgaria on March 19.
“But because we are so close to the conflict, I must say that at the moment we cannot provide Ukraine with military aid,” Petkov said, adding that aid must be approved by Bulgaria’s parliament.
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