US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has begun a two-day visit to Bulgaria, starting with a visit to US and Bulgarian military personnel in training. “This visit is symbolic,” Bulgarian Defence Minister Dragomir Sakov said, according to a ministry statement. A Bulgarian battalion under the operational command of the supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe is being prepared for the first time at the Novo Selo training area in the eastern Balkan country, which is used jointly by the US and Bulgaria, he said. This is intended to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. International media reports that Bu…