While NATO continues to adapt to changes in the security environment, the fundamentals of how it works haven’t changed. Consensus and consultation are part of NATO’s DNA. All member countries are represented in the North Atlantic Council, where decisions are taken by consensus – meaning unanimously – expressing the collective will of all the nations. There is no NATO army. National forces are under national command. When called upon, Allied nations volunteer their troops, equipment or other capabilities to NATO-led operations and exercises. Each member state pays for its own armed forces, and covers the costs of deploying its forces. But together, the Allies get a lot more security for a lot less cost than they would if they had to do it alone. Each member contributes a small percentage of its national defence budget to NATO. The national contributions pay for running the political and operational headquarters in Belgium, as well as the integrated military command structure across NATO territory. They also cover some of the costs of shared military capabilities, systems and facilities needed for communication, command and control, or for logistical support to NATO operations. Other multinational capability projects are funded by groups of Allies. Thanks to years of joint planning, exercises and deployments, soldiers from different nations can work well together when the need arises. Working together, the Allies are stronger.
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