Italy to boost defence spending in 2025 to meet NATO's 2% GDP target

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that Italy is preparing to raise its defence spending in 2025 to align with NATO’s benchmark of dedicating 2 per cent of GDP to military expenditures.

Meloni made these remarks during a Senate address, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

She stated that the government intends to meet this goal not only by increasing defence allocations but also by broadening the definition of what qualifies as military spending. This will involve including certain expenditures previously not classified under defence. At present, Italy allocates approximately 1.5 per cent of its GDP to defence, falling below the NATO standard agreed upon by member states. The push to meet the target reflects growing pressure within the alliance for equitable burden-sharing amid heightened global security concerns.

The prime minister also emphasised Italy’s continued backing of US-led efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, highlighting the importance of transatlantic unity in addressing geopolitical challenges. Currently, 23 out of NATO’s 32 member countries have met or exceeded the 2 per cent defence spending threshold, a figure that has gained renewed focus since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Italy's decision to increase its defence spending is a direct response to criticism from the US, particularly from President Donald Trump, who advocated for NATO allies to raise their military budgets to 5 per cent of GDP. 

While acknowledging that increasing defence spending presents a challenge for Italy due to its high debt levels, Meloni reassured the public that the planned changes would not destabilise the country’s financial situation. Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti also confirmed that the additional defence expenditures would not disrupt the country’s fiscal balance, signaling the government’s commitment to both NATO obligations and maintaining economic stability.

By Naila Huseynova