site.btaBulgarian Defence Ministry Congratulates Sweden on Joining NATO

The Bulgarian Defence Ministry congratulates Sweden on joining NATO, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Sweden became the 32nd full member of the alliance and will contribute to enhancing security in the Baltic region, NATO's Eastern flank and the entire Euro-Atlantic area.

Sweden's accession to NATO sends a clear political message about the importance of the Alliance in ensuring security in Europe. It also opens up further opportunities for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation, the statement reads.

Bulgaria has consistently supported NATO's open door policy. The new members of the Alliance, Finland and Sweden, submitted their applications to join NATO on May 18, 2022. The protocols for the accession of the two countries to the Alliance were signed on July 5, 2022 in Brussels. On July 13, 2022, the Bulgarian National Assembly ratified the protocols for the accession of the two countries, the press release said.