How Bulgaria drifted toward Moscow in six months

Bulgaria has shifted from a close Ukraine ally to one of the EU and NATO's most unpredictable members in under six months under Prime Minister Rumen Radev, raising concerns about the country's geopolitical direction. Radev, a former president, won April elections with over 44% of votes and has since pursued a foreign policy balancing the EU and Russia. He withdrew Bulgaria from the "Coalition of the Will" supporting Ukraine and halted bilateral military aid, while maintaining formal EU and NATO commitments. Experts describe Bulgaria's approach as "transactional" and inconsistent, as it supports US operations in the Middle East while distancing from European efforts on Ukraine. Domestically, Radev's government focuses on judicial reform, promising radical changes to address corruption.