Since 2017 – when it became a member of NATO – Montenegro has allocated more than 750 million euros for defense.
Of that, this year’s budget exceeds 150 million euros.
That amount meets the NATO standard, which stipulates that member states annually allocate at least two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to defense.
Who are the millions going to – NATO or Montenegro?
Before joining NATO in 2017, opponents of membership, such as Milan Knezevic from the pro-Russian Democratic Front, claimed that membership would cost Montenegro 70 million euros per year.
The Ministry of Defense states that allocations for NATO are still “often misinterpreted”.
As they told, the funds are not diverted to Brussels but remain in Montenegro.
The even distribution of the load
Ten years ago, NATO leaders decided that by this year, 2024, each member should reach a defense allocation of two percent of GDP.
In that period, only three of the then 28 member states allocated more than that amount – the United States (U.S.), Greece and Great Britain.
How Montenegro spends the budget
In addition to the percentage of two percent, NATO recommended that at least 20 percent be set aside for equipment in the budget structure.
The Ministry stated that this year they will allocate 35.7 percent for equipment.
