Published: 26 July 2025 | Author: Dr. Dimitar Keranov
Pretoria’s Diplomatic Withdrawal
The decision by the Republic of South Africa to close its embassy in Sofia — an event that went largely unnoticed in the Bulgarian public sphere — is a troubling signal. Not only as a diplomatic gesture, but also as a reflection of shifting global priorities.
South Africa is a leading member of BRICS and maintains stable, friendly relations with Russia.
Bulgaria, for its part, is a member of the EU and NATO, and has been designated an unfriendly country by the Russian government. Against this backdrop, the diminished interest in maintaining a diplomatic presence in Sofia is hardly surprising.
And while Pretoria’s decision is officially framed as a technical budgetary measure, in practice it suggests that Bulgaria is not viewed as a priority partner in South Africa’s foreign policy — at least for now.