site.btaUPDATED Majority of Bulgarians Are Supportive of NATO Membership

A majority of 56% of Bulgarians say they would vote to stay in NATO, according to data used in the Alliance Secretary General's annual report presented Thursday. 28% of people in the country would be in favour of leaving the alliance, an opinion poll shows.

Bulgaria joined the Alliance in 2004.

According to 59% of Bulgarians, NATO keeps this country safe, while 19% are of the opposite opinion.

Across the bloc, agreement that NATO membership makes foreign attack less likely remains elevated since 2021 (at 61%), with only 14% disagreeing with the statement.

Public support for defence spending increased in 2023, with an average of 77% of NATO country citizens agreeing that military spending should be maintained or increased. In Bulgaria, 84% favour increased military spending and 10% are of the opposite opinion. Six percent are undecided.

For 70% of Bulgarians (82% in the rest of NATO) the transatlantic bonds is important for dealing with security challenges. For 42% of Bulgarians and 61% of the rest in NATO, their country should defend another NATO country if attacked. 68% of Bulgarians and 73% in the rest of NATO agree that their country should be defended by other NATO countries, if attacked.

According to 59% of people in this country and 61% of the rest of the citizens of countries in the Alliance, membership in the Alliance  makes attack by a foreign nation less likely. 46% of Bulgarians say NATO is important to the future security of their country. To 27%, it is somewhat important.

Half of the Bulgarians (49%) said they feel safe in Bulgaria, which compares with 50% in the rest of the Alliance. One in three Bulgarians (33%) feel unsafe.

At 62%, unfavourability towards Russia remains high across the NATO countries. 13% have a favourable view of the Kremlin regime. Over the past year, the share of those who don't know increased from 4% to 5%.

Attitudes towards China have changed similarly, remaining negative for 42% and positive for 32% of respondents.

In Bulgaria, 22% strongly agree with continued support for Ukraine, 23% somewhat agrees, 16% somewhat disagree, 34% strongly disagree and 5% don't know. According to 66% of Bulgarian citizens, the war in Ukraine has impacted safety and security in their country, and according to 35% it has not.

At the end of this month Bulgaria will mark the 20th anniversary of its accession to NATO. Bulgaria joined the Alliance along with Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.