Minister Velislava Petrova Participates in the NATO Summit in Türkiye
08 July 2026 News
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Velislava Petrova, is part of the delegation led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev participating in the NATO Summit, which is taking place in Ankara on 7 and 8 July.
On the first day of the Summit, Minister Petrova took part in a discussion between the Foreign Ministers of the NATO member states and partners from the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative – Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting focused on security in the Middle East and prospects for further deepening cooperation between the Alliance and its regional partners.
In her remarks, Minister Petrova emphasised that the crisis in the Persian Gulf, tensions surrounding Iran, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the vulnerability of global energy markets clearly demonstrate the growing interdependence between the security of the Alliance and that of the Middle East. She noted that this calls for strengthening the political dialogue with the region’s partners through closer practical cooperation, including the full use of Individually Tailored Partnership Programmes.
In this context, she also underlined Bulgaria’s key geographical position, which provides opportunities for diversifying transport links between Europe and the Middle East.
In Ankara, Minister Velislava Petrova also participated in a meeting of the NATO – Ukraine Council, attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
The Allies and the Ukrainian side exchanged views on developments on the ground. Ukraine called for a cessation of hostilities as the first step towards launching negotiations and seeking a diplomatic solution. There was broad agreement that support for Ukraine should remain sustainable and predictable.
Bulgaria reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, as well as for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict through diplomacy and with the active involvement of Ukraine and the European Union.
The Minister’s programme also includes bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands, Sweden and Ukraine, focusing on current security challenges, regional stability and strengthening cooperation within the Alliance.
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