Bulgaria–United Kingdom relations explained

Bulgarian–British relations
Party1:	Bulgaria
Party2:	United Kingdom
Map:	Bulgaria United Kingdom Locator.png
Filetype:	png
Mission1:	Embassy of Bulgaria, London
Mission2:	Embassy of the United Kingdom, Sofia
Envoytitle1:	Ambassador
Envoy1:	Marin Raykov
Envoytitle2:	Ambassador
Envoy2:	Rob Dixon

Bulgarian–British relations are foreign relations between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom.

Overview

Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 1879 as Bulgaria achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire. The two were enemies during World War I, most of World War II, and the Cold War.^{[1] [2]}

Bulgaria has an embassy in London and the United Kingdom has an embassy in Sofia. Both countries are full members of NATO and the Council of Europe, with the United Kingdom giving full support to Bulgaria's applications to join NATO and the European Union. Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, trade between the United Kingdom and European Union members such as Bulgaria has been governed by the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement since 1 January 2021.^{[3] [4]}

Royal visits to Bulgaria

• King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
  • 9 September 1936: Sofia
• The Duke of Edinburgh
  • October 1973: Varna
• The Prince of Wales
  • 6 – 8 November 1998: Sofia and Plovdiv
  • 13 – 14 March 2003: Sofia and Varna
• The Duke of York
  • 17–19 October 2001: Sofia
• The Earl of Wessex and The Countess of Wessex
  • 23 – 24 June 2013: Sofia
• The Duke of Kent
  • 7–9 April 2014: Sofia and Plovdiv
• Prince Michael of Kent
  • winter 1970
  • 18–20 May 2023: Sofia and Bachkovo Monastery

See also

• Foreign relations of Bulgaria
  • Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Embassy of Bulgaria, London
• List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria

Further reading

• Leonard, Glenn. "Economics, Diplomacy, and War: Britain and Bulgaria, 1936–38," Canadian Journal of History (2012) 47#3 pp 597–622.

External links

• Bulgarian embassy in London
• UK and Bulgaria - UK and the world - GOV.UK
• British embassy in Sofia

Notes and References

1. Glenn Leonard, Economics, Diplomacy, and War: Britain and Bulgaria, 1936–38
2. Canadian Journal of History (2012) 47#3 pp 597–622.
3. Web site: UK and EU agree Brexit trade deal . GOV.UK. 24 December 2020. 2 December 2023.
4. News: Brexit: Landmark UK-EU trade deal to be signed. BBC News. 29 December 2020. 2 December 2023.