NATO’s presence in Afghanistan describes an under-resourced ambition to promote a democratic statehood (2003–07), but the civilian surge brought resources closer to match ambitions (2009–11). Ambitions were in turn downplayed by a focus on transition (2011–14) and advisory and training (2015 onward). Afghanistan as an out-of-area operation was directly linked to the domestic economic bases and thus sensitive to budgetary readiness. The financial austerity after 2008 put additional pressure on allies to prioritise core interests over the more peripheral interest of stabilising, let alone democratising, Afghanistan.