Radev and Rutte discuss Iran threat to NATO

Prime Minister Rumen Radev held a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday, the Council of Ministers said in a press release here. The two discussed the security environment in Europe, focusing on a possible risk of aggressive actions by Iran, according to reports in foreign media.

Rutte personally confirmed NATO's full support and the readiness of the Alliance's defence forces and capabilities in the region to respond to and neutralize any threat to NATO member states. Readiness to provide reliable protection was also demonstrated by the recent successful interception of ballistic missiles heading towards Türkiye. Any attack on a NATO member state will be categorically treated as an attack against the Alliance, with all actions arising from the North Atlantic Treaty to follow, the press release said, CE Report quotes BTA.

A Financial Times report that Iranian forces had assessed striking US military assets in Bulgaria prompted security, political and regional responses on Wednesday. Bulgarian authorities tightened protection at Bezmer Air Base but ruled out a direct threat to national security, three political parties criticized the government or demanded answers, and Greece was reported to be considering Patriot assistance for Bulgaria.

Citing “two regime insiders”, the Financial Times said that “Iranian forces had assessed striking US assets in south-eastern European countries such as Bulgaria”, which had approved the use of Bezmer Air Base for US refuelling aircraft. One of the sources also identified Cyprus as a possible target for retaliation in the event of a renewed US offensive.

Photo: Chat GPT