Italy Faces Pressure on Defense Spending Amid Rising NATO Expectations
Italy is under growing pressure to boost its defense spending as global tensions escalate and NATO allies prepare to raise expectations for military investment.
“In light of current tensions, we are fully aware of the need to increase such spending in the coming years,” said Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
In 2024, Italy allocated 1.49 percent of its GDP to defense, falling short of NATO’s longstanding spending benchmark of 2 percent. It remains among a shrinking group of European nations—alongside Spain and Belgium—that have not yet met that target. However, Belgium recently said it plans to hit the 2 percent goal this year.
The pressure is likely to intensify as NATO leaders are expected to raise the alliance’s spending target to over 3 percent of GDP at the upcoming summit in The Hague this June. In preparation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is reportedly advocating for a broader interpretation of defense spending—one that includes costs related to border protection and coast guard operations.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to urge NATO allies to dramatically raise their defense budgets to at least 5 percent of GDP. But Crosetto dismissed the suggestion as unrealistic. Describing Trump’s proposal as “unthinkable,” he emphasized the limits European countries face.
“European nations cannot compromise on welfare and social progress,” Crosetto said in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa published Monday. “Given the global context, the 2 percent figure is no longer a target—it’s just the starting point.”
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