SOFIA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. army is to deploy up to 250 troops in Bulgaria within the Atlantic Resolve operation, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The troops will be deployed by the end of this week at Novo Selo Training Area, one of four U.S.-Bulgarian joint military bases in the Balkan country, the statement said.
The U.S. will also deploy some 50 units of armaments such as Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks, the statement said.
The Atlantic Resolve operation aims to ensure the security of European allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the statement added.
Bulgaria, a member of NATO member, signed a defense cooperation agreement with the United States in 2006.
According to the agreement, the United States may deploy defense equipment and up to 2,500 personnel to the Novo Selo Training Area, the Aytos Storage facility, Bezmer Air Base, and Graf Ignatievo Air Base, and use these facilities for activities such as security cooperation exercises, refueling of aircraft, and temporary maintenance of vehicles.
