July 26, 2026, 6:02 pm
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New Year, New Data…and the line is very much going up.
Let’s talk NATO’s spending data for 2026 and what it signals about the way the military balance, especially in Europe, is beginning to shift.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing (partial):
Spending Data per NATO
https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/finance/def-exp-2026-en.pdf
Military Purchasing Power Adjustments per Peter Robertson, Professor of Economics at The University of Western Australia.
Reporting on Warnings Russia could take military or hybrid action against NATO
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/baltics-poland-warn-russia-launch-limited-military-hybrid-134779778
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0gp88q4l4o
Reporting on NATO spending
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/five-nato-members-seen-spend-over-35-gdp-core-defence-this-year-alliance-2026-07-07/
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/german-budget-committee-clears-50-billion-euros-defence-contracts-2025-12-17/
NATO Upgrades Baltic Air Policing Mission to Air Defence
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-upgrades-baltic-air-policing-mission-air-defence-2026-07-08/
Poland signs agreement for AGM-158 ER (2024)
https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/defence/poland-signs-for-hundreds-of-jassm-er-long-range-cruise-missiles
Estonia receives IRIS-T SLM
https://kyivindependent.com/estonia-receives-first-medium-range-air-defense-system/
Demographic Data on Killed Russian soldiers in Ukraine per:
https://en.zona.media/article/2026/07/17/casualties_eng-trl
NATO Military Command Structure
https://shape.nato.int/military_command_structure
CSIS – Repel Don’t Expel, Strengthening NATO’s Defence and Deterrence in the Baltic States
https://www.csis.org/analysis/repel-dont-expel
Apparent Ruta Cruise missile wreckage in Ukraine
https://x.com/Archer83Able/status/2080422995911225732
Russian TASS on NATO Shell prices
https://tass.com/world/2146077
Featured article on French Spending Freezes
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-budget-freeze-6-billion-euro-middle-east-crisis/
NATO Announces new AWACS System
https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/07/07/natos-new-airborne-warning-and-control-system-is-announced
Ukraine wants to test SAMP-T NG
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/07/14/8044084/
US Plans PAC-3 Missile Maintenance facility in Europe
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-talks-europe-missile-co-production-source-says-2026-07-07/
European push for long-range-strike capabilities
https://www.euractiv.com/news/european-nato-allies-to-expand-long-range-strike-capability/
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/missile-dialogue-initiative/2024/04/poland-set-to-bolster-its-long-range-strike-capability/
NATO state involvement with Ukrainian Defence Production or production for Ukraine
Netherlands Will Fund Production of New Ruta Rockets for Ukraine
https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/air/uk-to-provide-ukraine-with-thousands-of-octopus-interceptor-uavs-each-month
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/germany-to-build-ukraines-long-range-bars-strike-drones-on-its-own-soil-20575
France Integrates APKWS style Rocket with Rafale
https://www.twz.com/air/rafale-fighter-adds-cheap-drone-killing-rocket-to-its-armory
Caveats & Comments:
Nothing in this episode should be taken to represent an opinion or advice on any legal matter, including with regards to the potential application of domestic or international law to any of the events described or alluded to.
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:55 — What Am I Talking About?
00:03:00 — NATO Since 2022
00:07:52 — the Headline Numbers
00:19:49 — Who’s Driving the Change?
00:24:46 — Digging Deeper
00:31:34 — Capability Measures
00:34:04 — Pushing for European Alternative Options
00:38:44 — So What: Russia
00:51:17 — the Questionmarks
00:55:43 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
