ABSTRACT
The chapter provides an overview of the slowly emerging political consensus on Bulgaria's security policy and the evolution of national strategic thinking. It also highlights some of the future challenges to the country's search for security in the context of integration in the Euro-Atlantic community. The Bulgaria-North Atlantic Treaty Organization relations was laid down by a decision of the Bulgarian government to accept the invitation extended by the London Declaration of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) to establish diplomatic links with the Alliance. The ascendance of the rightist UDF to power dramatically changed Bulgaria's approach to cooperation with and integration in the international community. The loss of the UDF in the parliamentary elections and the ascendance to power of the Simeon II National Movement (NDSV) led by Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha – the former king of Bulgaria until the Communist takeover following World War II forced him into exile – did not change significantly Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities.
