Bulgaria’s new government under Radev shows unpredictable foreign policy, balancing EU/NATO ties with Russian interests, while promising deep judicial reform.
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Under the leadership of Rumen Radev, Bulgaria has rapidly shifted from being a close partner of Ukraine to becoming one of the most unpredictable members of the EU and NATO, raising questions about its geopolitical strategy. Radev, who won the parliamentary elections on promises of deep judicial reform and combating oligarchic influence, has taken office as Prime Minister. His foreign policy is characterized as a balancing act between the European Union and Russia, echoing Viktor Orbán’s previous stance in Hungary, though Radev attempts to balance this with appealing to a segment of the electorate unwilling to sever ties with Europe. Radev has advocated for resolving the Ukraine conflict through negotiations, often adopting Russian arguments regarding nuclear escalation. He withdrew Bulgaria from the “Coalition of the Willing” and initially announced no military aid to Ukraine, though later clarified that support would continue through the EU and NATO. His policy is described as “transactional,” as Bulgaria distances itself from European efforts to consolidate Ukraine while supporting US military operations in the Middle East. Domestically, Radev’s main focus is reforming the judiciary, which suffers from a crisis of institutional legitimacy and corruption. The government plans a comprehensive overhaul, including public vetting of judicial candidates that could involve scrutinizing private life, and proposes a constitutional reform to restructure the Supreme Judicial Council.
