In the city of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria

 “I would like to thank Bulgaria, which just today [17 February] agreed to accept the US Army's Stryker Company for joint training opportunities, which will leave Germany in the coming days and help ensure our readiness and operational capability with Bulgaria as our NATO ally.” -- Lloyd Austin, head of the U.S. Department of Defense

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(in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula) Founded in the 7th century, Bulgaria is one of the oldest states on the European continent. It is intersected by historically important routes from northern and eastern Europe to the Mediterranean basin and from western and central Europe to the Middle East. Before the creation of the Bulgarian state, the empires of ancient Rome, Greece, and Byzantium were strong presences. Emerging from centuries of Ottoman rule, Bulgaria gained its independence in the late 19th century, joined the losing side of several conflagrations in the first half of the 20th century, and, despite gravitating toward the Axis powers in World War II, found itself within close orbit of the Soviet Union by mid-century. This alliance had profound effects on the Bulgarian state and psyche, altering everything from land use and labor practices to religion and the arts. As communist governments fell in eastern Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bulgaria was suddenly released from the magnetic field of the Soviet giant and drifted into the turbulent terrain of post-communism. Bulgaria became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and of the European Union (EU) in 2007. The members of the EU engage in the bulk of Bulgarian trade. The country is remarkable for its variety of scenery; its rugged mountains and relaxing Black Sea resorts attract many visitors. Like other nations of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria claims a mix of Eastern and Western cultures, and the mingling is evident in its cuisine, its architecture, and its religious heritage.

+ Surrounded by sprawling parkland, Sofia, the capital and largest city in Bulgaria, lies at the foot of popular ski mountain, Vitosha. With a history that stretches over seven millennia, Sofia is one of Europe's oldest cities. Its National Historical Museum is one of Eastern Europe's most extensive. Wide, cobblestone boulevards, charming boutiques, and electrifying nightlife are the more unforgettable aspects of this dynamic city, traversed by lots of trolleys, trams, and buses. A modern, youthful city, Sofia is with a scattering of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques, and leftover Red Army monuments that lend it something of an eclectic, exotic feel. Excavation work carried out during construction of the metro unveiled a treasure trove of Roman ruins from nearly 2000 years ago, when the city was called "Serdica." Away from the buildings and boulevards, vast parks and manicured gardens offer a welcome respite, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mt Vitosha are just a short bus ride from the city's center.