Bulgaria's Answer To US Tanks Is 'No' - Chief Of Defence If the US ask us for permission to deploy tanks or other armoured vehicles, at this point our answer is "No," Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov, Chief of Defense Staff of Bulgaria, told the BGNES wire service. "There is no reason for stirring of panic about the deployment of US or any other foreign tanks and armoured vehicles on Bulgarian territory," Nikolov said. "It is not true that in Bulgaria will be deployed some of 150 US tanks," he continued. This hasn't been discussed in NATO. This is just the statement of some US general and it cannot be considered an official statement. The remark came in response to recent publications that the US was planning to permanently deploy 150 tanks and armoured vehicles for military exercises in East European countries, including Bulgaria. The information was later denied by Bulgaria's Defence Ministry, which said there was no official request in this regard. Yes Warfou you show the wests build up of military forces in eastern Europe, this is threatening behaviour and if Russia moves tanks to its borders then western media critizes Russia but does not mention the wests own build up that started the escalation. Fester I suggest you read Bloomberg and Reuters. WesternnBusiness is hurting because of Russian sanctions, western businesses want the sanctions ended. Russia is one of the largest economies in the world and will survive this. What Russia has and the West does not is cohesive leadership. Jusy look at the mess in US politics right now and how the US is leading the fight against Isis and US allies such as Saudia Arabia are financing Isis and the Turks are interfering with the ability of the Kurds to fight Isis. Warfou - 27 Nov 2014 // 23:28:38 Sounds irrational. Bulgaria has only 86 T72 tanks. Even though Poland has about a thousand of its own Leopards, PT91 and T72s, it is still very much interested in hosting Western military. A few dozens of US Abrams and UK's Challengers are already here, and the French Leclercs are awaited to come for joint maneuvres in a few weeks. Fester - 27 Nov 2014 // 23:13:32 There's no need to send American tanks to Bulgaria or anywhere else in Eastern Europe for that matter. Today OPEC announced they won't cut production, Saudi said they might even increase it. Oil fell to $70 per barrel today as a result and is expected to fall to $50 next year. Russia needs oil at $120 to maintain its expenditures and military spending. Russia doesn't produce absolutely anything except oil & gas, it's economy depends 100% on pumping oil just like Nigeria and South Sudan. Russia's Rouble has collapsed and Russia will have a major financial crisis by spring next year with the price of oil at $50. Bulgaria might need those tanks to keep the desperate peasants from Russia from coming here illegally because of their desperate economic situation. Thank you Russia, you dug your own grave without the EuroAtlantic community having to spend much. This is the correct awnser, Bulgaria and Russia are allies going back a long time. Clever Bulgaria, tell the Americans to get lost with their tanks, they are not going to be there to protect Bulgaria but to threaten Bulgaria. People should visit the Russian church is Sofia more often and appreciate Bulgarian history. Why not? The U.S. and Bulgaria are allies through NATO, and Bulgaria does not have sizable armed forces. There is no specific need for them, but also no need to say no. I'd agree, though, that the Baltic states and Poland were a better place for these in the current situation.