At a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on December 13, 2023, Allies agreed on NATO’s civil and military budgets for 2024. The civil budget was set at €438.1 million, while the military budget was set at €2.03 billion. These budgets represent an 18.2% and 12% increase over the previous year, respectively. NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană emphasized that increasing and broadening the use of NATO common funding allows Allies to more effectively address shared security challenges. This common funding demonstrates Allied solidarity and collective will, especially in turbulent times.
The decision to increase budgets comes in response to rising global competition and threats to Euro-Atlantic security, particularly due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. At the Madrid Summit in 2022, Allies agreed to invest more together in NATO, and at the Vilnius Summit in 2023, further steps were taken to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence. NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strong transatlantic bond, unity, and cohesion at a critical time for global peace and security. The increased budgets aim to ensure that these decisions are adequately resourced.
NATO’s civil budget funds personnel, operating costs, and program expenditures of NATO’s Headquarters and international staff, while the military budget covers the operating costs of NATO Command Structure headquarters, missions, and operations worldwide. The NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) is another common funded element that covers major construction and command and control system investments. The 2024 ceiling for the NSIP is €1.3 billion, representing a 30% increase over 2023. These common-funded budgets strengthen NATO by providing major capabilities, enabling deterrence, defence, and interoperability, and supporting consultation and decision-making at the highest levels.
Overall, NATO is committed to providing security in an effective, transparent, and financially responsible manner. The increased budgets for 2024 demonstrate Allies’ dedication to strengthening NATO’s capabilities in the face of evolving security challenges. By investing more together in NATO, Allies aim to enhance their collective ability to address shared threats and maintain peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond. The common-funded budgets reflect the Allies’ commitment to solidarity, unity, and cooperation in the face of global uncertainty and instability.
