Turkey and Bulgaria negotiate Botas gas deal and wider energy ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Sofia and met Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova to discuss the Botas‑Bulgargas natural‑gas contract. Both ministers said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked that the dispute be resolved quickly. Petrova emphasized that the discussions “are multi‑layered” and go beyond a single agreement, covering future energy cooperation and new transit corridors.

Fidan announced Turkey’s readiness to increase gas‑transmission capacity to Bulgaria and to support additional infrastructure investments. He noted that boosting supply is “of strategic significance not only for our bilateral relations but also for the energy security of Eastern Europe.” The two sides also talked about broader projects, including transport links that would make Bulgaria a hub for routes from Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe.

The talks were framed as part of a wider effort to deepen Turkey‑Bulgaria partnership on energy, trade, migration management and security, with both sides stressing the importance of stable, mutually‑beneficial relations.