SOFIA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. army on Wednesday deployed 120 troops at Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria within the American European Reassurance Initiative, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

By the end of this week, the U.S. would deploy at this training area also 15 combat vehicles Bradley, two tracked vehicles M113, and various types of automotive and ancillary equipment, the statement said.

This year, the joint exercises at Novo Selo Training Area would be strengthened, and U.S. military units would be rotated to participate in these exercises, the ministry said.

The aim was to maintain and build capabilities for interoperability at national and allied levels, it said.

Bulgaria, a 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 no more than 2,500 personnel to the Novo Selo Training Range, 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.