Italy expects NATO to raise defence spending target to between 3.5% and 5% of GDP

By Angelo Amante, Giuseppe Fonte

NATO will raise the defence spending target for its member nations to between 3.5% and 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 2% at the next alliance summit in June, Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Wednesday.

Under pressure from the United States to raise its outlays on security, Italy said it would meet this year the 2% target through a series of accounting changes.

Proposals have been drafted to boost Italy's defence budget while limiting any impact on its strained state coffers.

"The Italian government will express itself and discuss its ideas (at the June summit), and there NATO will make a decision," Crosetto said, replying to questions in the lower house of parliament.

Raising Italy's defence budget to a target level of 5% of GDP on paper would require more than 60 billion euros ($68 billion), a commitment that might be tough to meet for Italy, which sees its massive public debt rising to almost 138% of GDP in 2026 before edging down the following year.

However, Crosetto said the defence budget ought to include a series of items that were already factored into the overall government budget, such as money spent for operational capabilities, communications and space policies.

He also mentioned spending aimed at increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure and improving military mobility.

In reply to the opposition in parliament, who believe boosting the defence budget would take money away from Italy's social spending, Crosetto said it was ultimately up to parliament to set out the target.

"We are a parliamentary republic and the budget is discussed in this Chamber and voted on in this Chamber, so I will take note of what NATO decides and what parliament subsequently decides," he said.