NATO Increases Joint Military Budget for 2024

At an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance, member states decided to increase NATO's joint military and civil budgets for 2024. 

This is stated in an official NATO statement. 

Thus, next year, the bloc's civil budget will amount to 438.1 million euros, and the military budget will be 2.03 billion euros, which is 18.2% and 12% more than in 2023.  

"Common funding demonstrates Allied solidarity and collective will. In turbulent times, we need this more than ever," said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană. 

Moreover, Mr. Geoană also stressed that increasing and expanding the use of NATO's common funding will allow Allies to better address common security challenges.  

NATO's civil budget covers the staff, operating and programme costs of NATO Headquarters and its international staff. The military budget is designed to cover the operating costs of the NATO Command Structure, funding missions and operations around the world.  

At the same time, the main "element of NATO common funding" remains the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP), which covers major construction works and investments in command and control systems.  Currently, the NSIP funding ceiling for 2024 is €1.3 billion, a 30% increase over 2023. 

"Common-funded budgets strengthen NATO, providing major capabilities, enabling deterrence, defence and interoperability, and supporting consultation and decision-making at the highest levels. NATO is committed to providing security in a way that is effective, transparent, and financially responsible," the Alliance said in a statement. 

This July, during the NATO summit in Vilnius, member states agreed to set the level of defence spending at at least two per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 

"11 Allies have now reached or exceeded the two per cent target. And we expect this number to increase significantly next year. Today, Allies have made a firm commitment to invest at least two per cent of GDP in defence annually," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the end of the first day of the summit in July. 

It is worth noting that after the outbreak of Russia's unprovoked genocidal war in Ukraine, the North Atlantic Alliance has faced unprecedented security challenges, and today Western analysts are openly discussing Moscow's potential confrontation with the Western defence alliance.