Italy to Embrace NATO's Flexible Defence Spending Targets

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that Italy can afford NATO's new defence spending targets, which aim to raise commitments to 5% of GDP by 2035. These targets allow for flexible implementation, ensuring no budgetary constraints for Italy. Only a minority of Italians support increased defence spending.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the new NATO targets for increased defence and security spending are within reach for Italy, attributing this to the flexibility in implementation granted by the alliance.

Following a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Meloni emphasized that the raised targets, which involve boosting defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, will not require Italy to divert funds from other budgetary needs.

Despite a European Council poll highlighting limited public support for this move, Meloni maintains that Italy will not need to employ an EU flexibility clause to meet these commitments without affecting the country’s fiscal discipline.