US Coaxes Bulgaria to Buy F-16 Fighter Jets

Washington is upping the pressure on Bulgaria to secure the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Balkan country over rival bids from Sweden and Italy.

"The United States is committed to working with the Bulgarian government to tailor the final scope of a potential F-16 sale to fit its budgetary and operational requirements, while still offering superior capabilities," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, according to a press release from December 20.

"The United States looks forward to completing final negotiations with the Bulgarian government," the press release concluded.

Pompeo's words follow a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on December 18, and a visit by his deputy, John Sullivan, to Bulgaria this week.

The vice-leader of the ruling GERB party and head of the party's parliamentary group, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, visited the US earlier in December.

They collectively signal that Bulgaria's political establishment is leaning towards the US-made Lockheed Martin jets - an option clearly preferred by Prime Minister Borissov.

"From what I've discussed with pilots, they say F-16 Block 70 are significantly better aircrafts than the others they offer us - the old Eurofighters and the Gripens," Borissov said on 14 December, adding that he was "not interfering in the [expert] commission's work".

In reality, observers say the government, not the expert commission reviewing all three offers, will likely make the final choice on what to replace the country's ageing Soviet-designed MiG-29s with.

The US and Sweden have emerged as the main contenders to sell Bulgaria fourth generation multi-purpose jet fighters.

Both have ramped up their bids to lure Sofia into choosing their offers, in the fight for a...