Italy Reaffirms Defence Spending at NATO Ankara Summit

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a Question Time interview that NATO remains the cornerstone of collective security, but Europe must assume greater responsibility within the alliance. He said the SAFE instrument should be opened to non‑European partners and affirmed that Italy will confirm its military‑spending commitment at the Ankara summit, describing the step as “necessary to protect the freedom and security of citizens.”

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto added that the creation of a European Defence Community can no longer be delayed, calling it a “deterrence tool and political boost” that would include countries such as Switzerland, the Western Balkans and Ukraine. He warned that while NATO is “cracked,” it is still essential for global stability. Crosetto noted Italy’s defence budget now stands at 2.8 % of GDP – 2 % for core defence and 0.8 % for security – and said the country is on track toward the alliance’s 5 % target, with plans to use the EU‑funded SAFE resources for the 2027 commitments.