Bulgarians Shift Support to NATO and EU

In Bulgaria, public support for NATO membership has significantly increased since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rising from 28% to 40% over the past seven years, according to a recent survey conducted by Alpha Research Agency for the Humanitarian and Social Research Foundation. The poll indicates a parallel rise in support for the European Union, while sentiments towards Russia have notably declined. Nearly half of the respondents believe that Bulgaria has benefited more from its NATO membership than it has lost, reflecting a shift in geopolitical perspectives among the populace. The survey highlights a dramatic decline in positive attitudes towards Russia, with approval ratings for President Vladimir Putin and the country itself plummeting. In 2018, 60.1% of Bulgarians viewed Russia favorably, but this figure has dropped to just 31.8% in 2024. Conversely, negative perceptions of Russia have surged, with 33.7% of respondents expressing disapproval, a stark contrast to only 8.2% in 2018. This shift underscores the impact of the Ukraine conflict on Bulgaria's national sentiment and its geopolitical alignment. Furthermore, the data reveals a robust 61% of Bulgarians supporting EU membership, with only 16% opposed. The war in Ukraine has heightened awareness of the potential risks associated with leaving the EU, leading to a stronger consensus among citizens regarding their European identity. The study concludes that the prospect of Bulgaria exiting the EU is largely viewed as unacceptable by the majority of the population.