Pentagon Requests Increase in US NATO Contribution to 20% for 2027

The US Department of War (the Pentagon) requested that Congress increase United States contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military budget and fund the alliance's infrastructure at a rate of up to 20% during fiscal year 2027, according to documents reviewed by Sputnik agency.

According to the documents, the total required funding amounts to $1.36 billion, compared to $1.14 billion during fiscal year 2026, representing a proposed increase of $218.5 million.

The largest increase is concentrated in the NATO Security Investment Programme, which includes updating military infrastructure and providing support for American forces stationed in Europe; the US administration plans to raise funding allocated to this programme by 25.4% to reach $604.3 million.

Washington also seeks to increase its direct contributions to the alliance's military budget by 14.5%, reaching $756.7 million.

The documents indicated that NATO countries agreed in 2022 to increase the total budget for the alliance's military infrastructure modernization programme by 25% annually above the inflation rate, while the United States covers approximately 15% of the programme's expenses, with other member states financing the remaining 85% share.

The request for increased funding comes at a time when President Donald Trump's administration is pressuring European allies to raise their military spending and take greater responsibility for their defense. NATO countries had agreed, during the Hague summit in June of last year, to increase defense spending and related security needs to 5% of GDP by 2035.

This year, the United States began reviewing its military presence in Europe, in parallel with calls to transition towards the concept of NATO 3.0, which grants European allies primary responsibility for their non-nuclear defense.