(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 18 - Italy is one of the few NATO members
not to have increased defence spending to 2% of GDP as called
for by NATO, and this is a problem, Defence Minister Guido
Crosetto said Friday.
"The 2% of GDP in defense is a fact acquired by all nations in
NATO and we are among the few that have not yet reached it: this
is both a political issue, because we are committed to reaching
it, but also a problem for Italian defense, because in a period
like this you do not invest in defense only because you are part
of an alliance, but because defense and deterrence are necessary
to guarantee a democratic future, also for our nation", he said
in Brussels.
Crosetto said that at the moment, the trajectory of military
spending in the 2025 budget is decreasing. (ANSA).
'Among few in NATO under 2%, a problem' says Crosetto
Italy defence spending falling, others' rising