COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO DEFENSE FINANCING: EVALUATING NATO AND EU STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON NATIONAL DEFENSE SUSTAINABILITY
COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO DEFENSE FINANCING: EVALUATING NATO AND EU STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON NATIONAL DEFENSE SUSTAINABILITY

Author(s): Adrian IURA
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Military policy
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: defense financing; NATO; European Union security policy; strategic governance; national defense sustainability.
Summary/Abstract: This study investigates how NATO and EU defense financing strategies shape the performance and sustainability of national defense systems, with a focus on comparative institutional approaches. Grounded in public finance and institutional theory, the research analyzes key differences in defense budgeting frameworks and strategic priorities between the two organizations. A comparative case study of Germany and Poland – representing distinct economic profiles, strategic postures and defense investment trajectories – illustrates how national responses to shared security challenges are mediated by divergent financing models. Methodologically, the study combines policy analysis with budgetary data and strategic documentation. Findings highlight both convergence and friction between NATO’s collective defense logic and the EU’s emerging defense autonomy initiatives. The paper argues that sustainable defense financing depends not only on fiscal capacity but also on institutional adaptability and policy coherence. It concludes with actionable insights for policymakers seeking to align national financing models with the evolving Euro – Atlantic security architecture.

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