NATO member states have approved the alliance’s 2026 civil and military budgets, allocating €528.2 million (about $623 million) for civilian operations and €2.42 billion (around $3 billion) for military expenditures. The decision was finalized during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, the organization’s principal political decision-making body.

According to a NATO statement, the 2026 budget aims to strengthen the alliance’s readiness, interoperability, and crisis management capabilities. It will also fund NATO’s command structure, training programs, joint exercises, and capacity-building initiatives for partner nations. Officials emphasized that the budget reflects a fairer distribution of financial responsibilities among member states.

The funding increase comes amid heightened global security concerns and continued efforts to modernize NATO’s defense posture. Analysts note that the budget underscores the alliance’s commitment to collective defense and strategic adaptation as geopolitical tensions persist across Europe and beyond.