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Bulgaria visit 1
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward "Hertz" Vaughan, USEUCOM's deputy director for security cooperation, policy, partnering and space capabilities, met with Bulgarian Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov on June 8, 2022 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Vaughan thanked Eftimov for Bulgaria's security leadership in the Balkans and Black Sea regions and the two discussed opportunities for further bilateral and Allied security cooperation.
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Bulgaria visit 2
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. "Hertz" Vaughan walks the flight line at Graf Ingatievo Air Base with Bulgarian Brig. Gen. "Hunter" Rusev, base commander, on June 7, 2022. The two fighter pilots toured the Soviet-era fighter jet flying operation and discussed Bulgaria's transition to the NATO interoperable F-16 fighter jet.
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Bulgaria visit 3
The USEUCOM team and U.S. Embassy Sofia defense team pose for a photo with Major General Mateev and staff at the Bulgarian Joint Special Operations Command near Plovdiv, Bulgaria on June 7, 2022. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. "Hertz" Vaughan and a team of USEUCOM security cooperation professionals visited Bulgaria to discuss current and future security cooperation with Bulgarian defense leaders.
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Bulgaria visit 4
Bulgarian Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. "Hertz" Vaughan discuss infrastructure planning in Sofia, Bulgaria on June 8, 2022. Bulgarian leaders are planning additional infrastructure upgrades at training areas throughout the country to enhance multi-domain training opportunities.
Senior U.S. European Command leaders visited Bulgaria to discuss current and future security cooperation with Bulgarian defense leaders this week.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward “Hertz” Vaughan, USEUCOM’s deputy director for security cooperation, policy, partnering and space capabilities, and a team of USEUCOM security cooperation professions were joined by U.S. Embassy defense officials, including Defense Attaché, U.S. Air Force Colonel Paul Sebold, and met with Bulgarian Armed Forces leaders in Sofia, Graf Ignatievo Air Base, and Novo Selo Training Area.
In Sofia, the USEUCOM team thanked Bulgarian Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Emil Eftimov, for Bulgaria’s security leadership in the Balkans and Black Sea regions. The two also discussed opportunities for further bilateral and Allied security cooperation. The USEUCOM team also visited a NATO battlegroup at Novo Selo Training Area. Bulgarian leaders are planning additional infrastructure upgrades at training areas throughout the country to enhance multi-domain training opportunities.
Vaughan spent part of the trip with Bulgarian Air Force Brigadier General Nikolai “Hunter” Rusev, commander of Graf Ignatievo Air Base. The two fighter pilots toured the Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jet flying operation and discussed Bulgaria’s transition to the NATO interoperable F-16 fighter jet.
During his visit, Vaughan also met with Commander of Bulgaria’s Air Force, Major General Dimitar Petrov.
“It was a pleasure and an honor to spend time with our great Allies. The Bulgarian Armed Forces are advancing both interoperability and modernization of their capabilities,” said Vaughan. “We stand ready to support infrastructure improvements and other initiatives that will further enhance the readiness and security of Bulgaria and the region.”
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About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 64,000 permanently assigned military and civilian personnel and works closely with NATO Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
