Italy will significantly increase its defence and security spending next year, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued that NATO allies should focus less on spending targets and more on adapting to the changing nature of warfare.
Addressing parliament on Thursday, Meloni said she would inform NATO leaders at next month's summit that Italy plans to allocate around 2.8% of GDP to defence and security in 2026, up from last year's level. Much of the increase will come from domestic security spending, including certain police functions that can now be counted under updated NATO guidelines.
Meloni cautioned against judging military strength solely by defence budgets or conventional weapons systems. She said the conflict in Ukraine had demonstrated how rapidly battlefield realities are evolving.
According to Meloni, drones have transformed the front line, making movement difficult and allowing relatively inexpensive systems to destroy costly military hardware.
She argued that NATO members should reassess the strategic value of assets such as satellites, data infrastructure and cyber capabilities alongside traditional equipment like tanks and aircraft carriers.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in warfare, Meloni said some countries are investing in training young people with gaming skills to operate drones remotely in future conflicts.
She suggested that data protection and digital capabilities are becoming as important as conventional military assets, calling for a broader debate among Western allies about how to prepare for future security challenges.
The discussion comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to press NATO allies to spend more on defence, arguing that European governments have relied too heavily on American military support. Trump has urged allies in Europe and Asia to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
The debate has also exposed tensions within allied governments. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday following a dispute over military funding, saying the government had not committed sufficient resources to address growing security threats.
Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he understood Healey's frustrations, noting that many defence ministers face similar challenges as governments balance security demands with budget pressures.
Sweden will reintroduce internal border controls for six months, citing security threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Poland has ...
Peruvian authorities have seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside the luggage of three Europeans attempting to fly to Germany, pro...
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to remain in power suffered two major setbacks on Thursday as Israel’s political deadlock deepened. A longstan...
Democrat wins surged on Tuesday across the United States with stunning victories in the South Carolina, Texas and Ohio senate races -- traditionally Republican strongholds -- in the 3 November midterm elections.
From international reporting and investigative documentaries to global forums and digital innovation, AnewZ marks two years of connecting Azerbaijan and the wider world.
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 turned to the Democrats because of foreign policy and economic concerns.
Sweden will reintroduce internal border controls for six months, citing security threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Poland has detained six people suspected of spying for Moscow and illegally supplying military components to Russia.
Peruvian authorities have seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside the luggage of three Europeans attempting to fly to Germany, prompting a criminal investigation into suspected wildlife trafficking.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to remain in power suffered two major setbacks on Thursday as Israel’s political deadlock deepened. A longstanding ultra-Orthodox ally refused to back him for prime minister, while an Arab-led party endorsed his main rival.
A fresh wave of hoax bomb threats disrupted air travel across Europe on Thursday, prompting flight diversions, additional security checks and emergency procedures at several airports.
A senior Chinese financial regulator has warned that a surge in artificial intelligence investment risks starving other sectors of vital funding as capital becomes increasingly concentrated in a handful of technology giants.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment