site.btaForeign Minister Gabriel: Many Bulgarians Realize NATO Membership Benefits Bulgaria

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel told reporters in Brussels on Thursday that there is a "critical mass" of sober-minded Bulgarians who realize that Bulgaria's membership in the Alliance makes the country stronger, more independent and more secure. Gabriel is in the Belgian capital for a two-day Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The Minister said that NATO membership is a strategic choice for Bulgaria, a it makes the country a part of the strongest military alliance in the world. Bulgaria participates because it shares democratic values. It has made a valuable contribution to the strategic importance of the Black Sea, the Western Balkans, with very clear, unwavering and comprehensive support for Ukraine. Bulgaria is determined to contribute to the transformation of the alliance, which is responding to the new challenges related to security and disinformation. We all state clearly that Russia remains the direct threat to the alliance, but we are more united than ever, Gabriel added.

The Minister emphasized the importance of showing that Bulgaria is a reliable and trusted partner, even until the last day of the Government's work. She said that she has not received an invitation to participate in the caretaker government and did not indicate whether she would remain in national politics after the upcoming early parliamentary elections. Gabriel shared that she expects that Bulgaria will preserve the same foreign priorities after the elections.