Italy pledges to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035

At the NATO summit in Ankara, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy will meet its NATO commitment to increase defence and security spending, currently at 2.8% of GDP, to 5% by 2035. She emphasized that the increase will be pursued "in a sustainable way, setting our own timing, methods and priorities".

The Milex Observatory calculated that reaching the 5% target would cost about €500 billion in cumulative spending from 2025 to 2035, compared with roughly €564 billion if Italy remained at a 2% level. The analysis noted a cumulative difference of €498 billion between the two scenarios.

Italian politician Claudio Borghi of the Lega questioned the focus on spending alone, arguing that the debate should first identify the threats Italy faces and clarify the roles of NATO versus the EU. German commentary has accused Italy of "beautifying" its NATO figures. The discussion highlights the political and fiscal stakes of Italy’s defence policy as it seeks to balance NATO obligations with domestic budget constraints.