Media: Italy's defence chief threatens resignation over spending cuts

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto considered resigning over planned cuts to the country’s defence budget, according to La Repubblica.

The disagreement emerged between the defence chief and members of the Lega party, including Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.

Lega leader and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also opposed not only Italy’s participation in the US arms procurement programme for Ukraine (PURL), but also an EU loan scheme for defence purposes known as SAFE. The newspaper stated that defence spending was being reduced by around €5 billion.

Crosetto ultimately decided to postpone his resignation after receiving assurances from Giorgetti that defence spending—currently at 1.61% of GDP—would be increased by 0.35% overall, including 0.15% this year and a similar rise in 2027. This would amount to an additional €7.5 billion, though the newspaper noted that securing it would be difficult amid the ongoing energy crisis.

Earlier reports also indicated tensions between Crosetto and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over defence spending, particularly after she outlined “new priorities” aimed at easing energy costs for households and businesses.

According to La Repubblica, the prime minister personally intervened to prevent Crosetto’s resignation, as she could not afford a political crisis within the ruling coalition.

By Jeyhun Aghazada