A recent survey has uncovered a significant divide among Bulgarians regarding their country’s NATO membership.
While the majority support remaining in the alliance, a notable 30 percent of the population would vote to leave, marking Bulgaria as the NATO member country with the highest inclination toward withdrawal. This sentiment emerges as NATO prepares for its upcoming summit in Washington.
The poll revealed that 59 percent of Bulgarians wish to stay in NATO, the lowest support percentage among the 32 member nations.
Additionally, 11 percent of respondents were undecided. When excluding the undecided, 66 percent of Bulgarians favor staying, while 34 percent support leaving. These findings were part of a broader survey distributed in Brussels to gauge opinions across member states.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg referenced the survey results during a press conference, emphasizing the overall support for NATO.
“Seventy percent of citizens across NATO countries would vote to stay in the alliance, with only 14 percent preferring to leave,” he stated. Stoltenberg also highlighted the widespread backing for continued aid to Ukraine among NATO members.
Despite the mixed feelings about NATO membership, 61 percent of Bulgarians believe that being part of the alliance enhances their country’s security.
This places Bulgaria ahead of several other NATO nations, including Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, and the USA, in terms of confidence in NATO’s security guarantees.
However, 29 percent of Bulgarians expressed concerns that NATO might not ensure their country’s safety, a figure only exceeded by Italians.
The survey also indicated that 69 percent of Bulgarians consider NATO membership crucial for their country’s future security. This sentiment aligns Bulgaria with Italy but contrasts with lower percentages in countries such as France, Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the USA.
Conversely, 13 percent of Bulgarians believe that NATO membership does not significantly impact their country’s security, a view more common in Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
On the topic of collective defense, 42 percent of Bulgarians agreed that Bulgaria should defend another NATO country if it is attacked, indicating a relatively high level of support for NATO’s collective defense principle.
In contrast, 26 percent disagreed with this stance. The survey also shed light on Bulgarians’ trust in their media, particularly regarding coverage of the Ukraine conflict.
Only 28 percent of Bulgarians trust their country’s media, while 66 percent express distrust. This level of media distrust places Bulgaria ahead of Greece and Hungary but behind several other NATO nations.
As the Washington summit approaches, NATO member states are expected to discuss substantial aid packages for Ukraine, including military assistance and security training.
Stoltenberg anticipates reaffirming NATO’s commitment to providing minimum annual military aid to Ukraine, along with additional support such as air defense systems and ammunition.
Stoltenberg also commented on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Moscow, clarifying that Orbán represents Hungary, not NATO, in such meetings.
He reiterated that all NATO member states agree on Russia’s role as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict and underscored NATO’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The survey’s findings highlight a complex and nuanced perspective among Bulgarians regarding NATO membership, reflecting broader trends and sentiments across the alliance.
As NATO convenes in Washington, these diverse views will undoubtedly play a role in shaping the discussions and decisions made at the summit.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members