BILATERAL RELATIONS: BRIEF OVERVIEW

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States of America were established in 1903. They were suspended from 1941 to 1947 and from 1950 to 1959.

Presently, the bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States of America have reached their peak, ever since their establishment over a century ago.
Following 9/11 and the participation of both the United States and Bulgaria in the global coalition against terrorism, the relations between the two countries have become more intense and have also changed in quality, becoming relations of strategic partnership.

Bulgaria supports the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with troops, while a unit of Bulgarian military instructors conducts training of Afghan National Army mechanized brigades.

BULGARIA CAUCUS: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Bulgaria Caucus in the United States House of Representatives was formed in June 2002. Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC 2nd) and Representative Ellen O. Tauscher (D-CA 10th) preside over the Caucus, comprising 17 members of the United States Congress in total.

Reciprocally, a Group for friendship with the United States was formed in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria on January 17th, 2003.

On March 11th, 2003 the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution, sponsored by Representative Joe Wilson, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the historic rescue of 50,000 Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust and commending the Bulgarian people for preserving and continuing their tradition of ethnic and religious tolerance. On the same day, the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a declaration on the same occasion.

September 19th, 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States of America. A number of events were held in observation of that day in both countries. The United States Senate adopted on September 17th, 2003 a resolution in commemoration of the anniversary. On October 8th, 2003 the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution on the same occasion. Respectively, a similar declaration passed the vote in the Bulgarian National Assembly on September 19th, 2003.