Meloni: Flexible NATO spending targets affordable for Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says new NATO defence spending targets are achievable for Italy, thanks to their flexible structure, and insists no other budget priorities will be sacrificed.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said Italy can afford to meet NATO’s newly agreed defence spending targets, describing the commitments as flexible and sustainable.

Speaking to reporters after a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Meloni stressed that “not a single euro” would be diverted from existing budget plans to fund the military increases.

NATO leaders endorsed a plan to raise total defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, up from the long-standing 2% target. Of this, 3.5% is designated for core defence spending such as troops and equipment, while 1.5% is to cover wider security needs, including cyber defence and infrastructure adaptation.

Meloni said the new framework “gives total flexibility” and would not impose mandatory yearly spending increases. However, she did not specify how Italy, which has one of the highest public debts in Europe, would fund the long-term commitment.

A recent survey by the European Council of Foreign Relations found only 17% of Italians support increased defence spending — the lowest among the 12 European countries polled.

Meloni also noted that her government has no current plans to activate a special EU clause that allows budget rule exceptions for defence spending. “For 2026, we do not think we need to use the clause,” she said, adding that any future decisions would depend on economic conditions.

On trade, the prime minister voiced optimism that the European Union and the United States could reach a deal on reciprocal 10% tariffs, calling the proposed rate “not particularly impactful” for Italian businesses.

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