Italy pushes for flexibility as NATO eyes higher GDP targets

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in Rome on June 12 as pressure mounts on member states to boost defence spending ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague later this month.

Rutte’s visit comes amid growing calls within the alliance for higher and more targeted military expenditures, with the NATO head outgoing leader proposing a new framework that would see member states reach 5 per cent of GDP by 2032, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Rutte has proposed a split target of 3.5 per cent spending on core defence capabilities, plus another 1.5 per cent on related areas such as cyber security and infrastructure.

Italy, historically among NATO’s lower spenders, has pledged to reach the current 2 per cent spending target this year, though analysts suggest Rome may achieve this partly through reclassifying certain security expenditures as defence-related. According to NATO figures, Italy currently spends less than 1.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Tajani reiterated Italy’s commitment to strengthening NATO but urged a gradual approach.

"Italy wants to strengthen NATO. We are convinced that we need a European defence with a strong European pillar, alongside a strong American one," Tajani said. "We are in favour of spending more on security, but the question for us is timing."

Tajani stressed that Italy would need at least ten years to fully meet any new financial commitments and called for more flexibility in the implementation of spending targets.

He expressed optimism that a consensus can be reached on the proposed spending tiers before the meeting in The Hague.

US President Donald Trump has previously urged NATO members to commit to spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence or risk forfeiting American support.

By Sabina Mammadli