The United States will pay less towards NATO's operational costs, while some European countries will contribute more. The American contribution of over 2 billion euros will decrease from over 22.1 percent to 16.35 percent. The new budget will be finalized next week at the NATO summit in London.
Not all NATO countries are happy with the new cost distribution. Diplomats say that France complained that it was agreed upon without proper consultation with other allies. Paris will therefore keep its own contribution at just over 10 percent. Germany's contribution is expected to increase.
The new cost distribution is meant to accommodate US President Donald Trump, who mainly complains that other NATO countries spend too little on defense. The Americans also grumble about the size of the US contribution to the alliance's operational costs.
Promotion
NATO's own budget is very limited. NATO itself does not have an army. The costs are therefore limited to maintaining common barracks, the headquarters in Brussels, personnel expenses, and similar items.
Until now, the Americans paid 22.1 percent of these general costs. Germany paid about 14.8 percent. By raising the budget by 33 million euros, Germany will contribute 16.35 percent. At the same time, the United States will lower its contribution, so that they will also come to 16.35 percent.
It is a decision with barely any budgetary impact for the Germans and Americans, but one with great symbolic value. US President Donald Trump has long been annoyed with the other NATO member states. By making this concession, German Chancellor Angela Merkel sends Trump the signal that she takes his complaints seriously.