Set D - UPSC Prelims 2025 Solutions

QQuestion

Consider the following countries : I. Austria II. Bulgaria III. Croatia IV. Serbia V. Sweden VI. North Macedonia How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

OOptions

A) Only three

B) Only four

C) Only five

D) All the six

✓Correct Answer

B) Only four

DDalvoy Solutions

Among the listed countries, four are members of NATO:

I. Austria: No, Austria is not a NATO member. Austria maintains a policy of neutrality and is not part of any military alliance.

II. Bulgaria: Yes, Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 as part of the eastward expansion.

III. Croatia: Yes, Croatia became a NATO member in 2009.

IV. Serbia: No, Serbia is not a NATO member and maintains a policy of military neutrality. Serbia has historically been aligned with Russia.

V. Sweden: Yes, Sweden joined NATO in 2024, ending its long-standing neutrality policy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

VI. North Macedonia: Yes, North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020, becoming the alliance's 30th member.

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SUPSC Prelims Strategy and Tips

For NATO membership questions, consider recent expansions, especially after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Some traditionally neutral countries have changed their security policies.

SUPSC Prelims 2025 Syllabus Analysis

International Relations - Military alliances and European security

AUPSC Prelims 2025 Question Analysis

Medium difficulty - requires knowledge of current NATO membership and recent expansions

Question 61

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