In brief
President Iliana Iotova met Saudi interior minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef Al Saud in Sofia as part of the king’s visit, calling Saudi Arabia one of Bulgaria’s most promising partners in the Middle East. The meeting highlighted cooperation in security, technology, Vision 2030 projects and a proposed direct air link between Sofia and Riyadh. Both sides expressed enthusiasm for expanding ties across economic and cultural domains.
In the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, President Iliana Iotova hosted Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef Al Saud, the interior minister of Saudi Arabia, amid his official visit to the country. The meeting, attended by Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, was described by the President’s Press Secretariat as a sign that Saudi Arabia is “among Bulgaria’s most promising partners in the Middle East.” The press briefing was held on Wednesday, according to the statement released by the Secretariat.
President Iotova said strengthening bilateral relations in the field of security can lay the groundwork for expanding the partnership into broader areas. She highlighted the conflict in the Persian Gulf and the resulting disruptions to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a danger that the two governments could address together. The Bulgarian president underscored Saudi Arabia’s role as a stabilising factor in efforts to normalise and de‑escalate the situation in the region, noting that the partnership could help protect the world’s supply routes.
The president also pointed to considerable potential for expanding cooperation in innovation. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy for modernization and large‑scale development offers opportunities for Bulgarian companies with expertise in artificial intelligence and high‑technology. “The Kingdom’s ambitious strategy for development offers opportunities for Bulgarian companies with expertise in artificial intelligence and high technology to participate in various projects,” Iotova said. She implied that a new wave of joint projects could launch in fields such as data analytics, smart manufacturing and digital infrastructure.
In that spirit, President Iotova mentioned the Future Investment Initiative (FII) launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The high‑profile forum is intended to promote contacts between the public and private sectors from the Gulf and the rest of the world. She said Bulgaria is interested in participating in the FII to enable dialogue between European and Gulf investors, which could translate into concrete investment agreements in the near future.
Another key element of the meeting was the discussion of air travel. The president highlighted the importance of a direct air link between Sofia and Riyadh, a move that would create new opportunities for business, tourism and cultural exchange. “Establishing a direct air link between Sofia and Riyadh would create new opportunities for business, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries,” Iotova said, stressing that the two nations have a long history of mutual respect besides the modern partnership she envisioned.
During the conversation, Prince Abdulaziz conveyed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s congratulations to President Iotova on her election as President of Bulgaria. The Saudi interior minister expressed optimism about deepening bilateral relations and highlighted Bulgaria’s importance as a reliable partner. He also encouraged the President to invite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a future visit to Bulgaria, hinting at plans to further strengthen ties at the highest level of both governments.
Separately, the Interior Ministry confirmed that Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia were stepping up cooperation in security and internal affairs. While the statement did not release specific project details, it reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to expanding cooperation in a range of domains, from counter‑terrorism to disaster response and law‑enforcement training.
For the world community, the meeting represents a new chapter in Bulgaria’s engagement with the Gulf region. The countries are working to combine security collaboration with economic initiatives that include high‑tech partnership and high‑profile investment forums. By engaging in a dynamic dialogue that covers trade, technology, and culture, both Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia aim to create a partnership that benefits their citizens and contributes to broader regional stability.
While the exact scope of joint projects has yet to be announced, the conversation between the two leaders pointed to a clear intent to foster a relationship that goes beyond traditional political cooperation. The expected launch of a direct air link and the upcoming participation in the Future Investment Initiative are tangible steps that will likely pave the way for increased business and cultural ties in the months to come.
