Bulgaria-Russia relations (21st Century Crisis)

Bulgaria-Russia relations (Bulgarian: Отношенията между България и Русия, Russian: Болгарско-российские отношения) are the relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United Russian Republics. Both are members of the CSTO, Global Orthodox Federation and the Global Slavic Union.

Currently, although despite going through an era of getting closer to the European Union and joining NATO, Bulgaria considers Russia one of its most important allies, if not the closest, and likewise for Russia. Relations between the two are very high.

Russia's South Stream pipeline runs through Bulgaria.

Despite Bulgaria joining the Central Powers during World War I, the Kingdom of Bulgaria resisted the German occupation, seeing what the Axis did to the neighboring Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Two types of resistances were led in Bulgaria: one led by the tsar himself, another one by right-wing anti-monarchists, and one by communists.

After the First Cold War, Bulgaria began a process of Europanization, joining NATO. However, under the presidency of Krasimir Karakachanov, Bulgaria exited NATO and grew closer to Russia, with Karakachanov looking to Vladimir Putin as a "man of guidance" on how to deal with corruption, crime and fraud in the country.

After exiting NATO, the Bulgarian military began extensive joint-drills with Russia.