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?

1. A. Only three
2. B. Only four
3. C. Only five
4. D. All the six

Answer: B

Explanation

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance. Let’s check the membership status of the listed countries: Bulgaria (III) became a NATO member in 2004. Croatia (IV) joined NATO in 2009. Sweden (V) officially became the 32nd member of NATO in March 2024. North Macedonia (VI) joined NATO in 2020. Austria (I) is a neutral country and not a NATO member. Serbia (II) is also not a NATO member. Therefore, four of the listed countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia) are members of NATO. The expansion of NATO, particularly in response to geopolitical events, is a significant development in international relations and a recurring topic for UPSC.