Fidan: Strong Türkiye-Bulgaria ties shape common future

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that his visit to Bulgaria reaffirmed the strong ties between the two neighboring countries and their shared commitment to advancing cooperation. “Our visit once again showed that the strong bonds established between our nations shape not only today but also our common future,” Fidan wrote on X after his trip to Sofia. He thanked Bulgarian officials, including his counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova, for their hospitality. Fidan said his meetings with President Iliyana Yotova, Prime Minister Rumen Radev, and Foreign Minister Petrova-Chamova showed that the two countries can further deepen cooperation in strategic areas such as energy, transport, connectivity, and the defense industry.

Community engagement

Fidan noted that he was pleased to meet again with members of the Turkish community in Bulgaria, whom he has known since his time as head of TIKA. He also met with Turkish businesspeople operating in Bulgaria and assessed their contributions. “We follow with satisfaction and pride the contributions of our kin and businesspeople to Bulgaria’s peace and prosperity,” he said. Fidan also attended the graduation ceremony of the Sofia Higher Islamic Institute, which he called a center of knowledge for Muslims in Bulgaria. “Meeting these bright young people who are walking toward the future while preserving their faith, identity, and cultural heritage truly gave us hope,” he said.

Strategic importance

For Türkiye, maintaining strong relations with Bulgaria is strategically important for energy security, migration management, and EU-Türkiye relations. Bulgaria is a key transit country for Turkish natural gas exports to Europe and hosts a significant Turkish minority. The focus on defense industry cooperation signals that the two NATO allies are seeking to deepen military-industrial ties. Fidan’s visit also underscores Türkiye’s role as a bridge between Europe and Asia, especially amid the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.