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How did NATO members fund military bases and other shared infrastructure during the Cold War?

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Flag of NATO featuring a white compass rose emblem with four lines radiating from the center on a blue background. — North Atlantic Treaty Organization Flag of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

During the first 20 years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, member states utilized a collective approach to fund essential military infrastructure. This included the joint planning, financing, and construction of facilities such as airfields, bases, pipelines, communications networks, and depots.1

During this period, these projects were supported by a shared financial burden, with the United States contributing approximately one-third of the total funding. It is important to note that this collective NATO funding was generally reserved for infrastructure rather than the procurement of military equipment, which remained the responsibility of individual member states. An exception to this rule was the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force, a specialized fleet of radar-bearing aircraft that was also funded jointly by the alliance.1