An overview of Turkey and Bulgaria relations between the years 1923-1990

Bulgaria, which gained independence in 1908, went to expand its borders and struggled with the Ottoman Empire until the First World War. The good relations established between the two countries during the First World War and the National Struggle continued until the 1930s. Political developments in the Balkans during the Second World War affected the relations between the two countries. Although the relations between Turkey and Bulgaria during the period of 1923-1990 became quite tense from time to time in foreign policy, the relations were never broken and the dialogue was continued between the two countries. The pressures of the Turks living in Bulgaria have been the main reason for the tension between the two countries. There were two major migrations from Bulgaria to Turkey during the Cold War period. In the same period, there has been a development between the two countries in terms of trade, health and tourism. After the end of the communist rule in Bulgaria, both the pressures on the Turkish people in the country ended and the tension between Turkey and Bulgaria ended.