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Washington Today
By the People, for the People
Bulgaria Joins Trump's Peace Council with Concerns Over Legitimacy
Bulgarian delegation to attend inaugural meeting, but at a lower level and with questions about the legal validity of the country's involvement.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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Bulgaria will be represented at the inaugural meeting of the Council for Peace in Washington, but the delegation will be led by a lower-level official than initially anticipated. The decision by the outgoing cabinet to join the initiative, which was rejected by the EU, has raised concerns about the legitimacy of Bulgaria's involvement, as it lacks parliamentary ratification.
Why it matters
The lack of parliamentary approval for Bulgaria's participation in the Council for Peace raises questions about the validity of the country's membership and could limit its influence within the organization. Experts warn that this could position Bulgaria as an observer rather than a core member, potentially undermining its ability to shape the council's decisions.
The details
The Bulgarian delegation to the Council for Peace forum, scheduled for February 19th, will be led by Ivan Naydenov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The outgoing cabinet also decided to include Konstantin Dimitrov, Director-General for Political Affairs, and Stefka Yocheva, Chargé d'Affaires of the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, in the delegation. However, the decision to join the initiative requires ratification by the parliament, but the cabinet refused to submit it for approval. Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Milen Keremedchiev commented that 'Bulgaria started in the worst possible way with its application for membership in the Council for Peace,' and that the Prime Minister's signature is invalid because there is no subsequent ratification.
- The Council for Peace forum is scheduled for February 19th, 2026.
- The outgoing cabinet's decision to join the initiative was recently declassified, leaving the matter to the incoming caretaker government.
The players
Ivan Naydenov
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will lead the Bulgarian delegation to the Council for Peace forum.
Konstantin Dimitrov
Director-General for Political Affairs, included in the Bulgarian delegation.
Stefka Yocheva
Chargé d'Affaires of the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, included in the Bulgarian delegation.
Milen Keremedchiev
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has expressed concerns about the legitimacy of Bulgaria's involvement in the Council for Peace.
Rosen Zhelyazkov
Outgoing Prime Minister of Bulgaria, who was authorized to sign the organization's charter.
What they’re saying
“Bulgaria started in the worst possible way with its application for membership in the Council for Peace.”
— Milen Keremedchiev, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (newsy-today.com)
“Our membership there cannot be legitimate.”
— Milen Keremedchiev, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (newsy-today.com)
“There is a big difference between being a founder and being an observer in this organization.”
— Milen Keremedchiev, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (newsy-today.com)
“Bulgaria is not currently sitting at the table officially. The signatures that have been placed are illegitimate. Rather, we have the function of an observer with signed functions of a founder.”
— Milen Keremedchiev, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (newsy-today.com)
“Trump is doing everything possible to circumvent international organizations, and European leaders should closely monitor these actions as parallel centers of influence and decision-making are being created.”
— Milen Keremedchiev, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (newsy-today.com)
What’s next
The incoming caretaker government in Bulgaria will need to decide how to proceed with the country's involvement in the Council for Peace, given the concerns over the legitimacy of the outgoing cabinet's decision.
The takeaway
Bulgaria's participation in the Council for Peace, an initiative launched by former US President Donald Trump and rejected by the EU, has raised significant questions about the legal validity of the country's membership. The lack of parliamentary ratification could limit Bulgaria's influence within the organization and position the country as an observer rather than a core member, potentially undermining its ability to shape the council's decisions.
