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Italy Claims NATO's 2% Defense Spending Target Through Budget Reclassification

Rome submits evidence of reaching the benchmark and outlines plans for gradual increases toward a 5% goal by 2032, but faces scrutiny over accounting methods.

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Overview

  • Italy has officially declared it met NATO's 2% of GDP defense spending target by reclassifying existing expenditures, such as military pensions and Coast Guard budgets.
  • A classified document detailing the achievement has been submitted to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of the June summit in The Hague.
  • Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced plans to work toward NATO's aspirational 5% combined defense and security spending target by 2032, splitting it into 3% for defense and 2% for broader security initiatives.
  • Opposition leaders have criticized the government's methods, alleging the use of accounting tricks and demanding greater transparency on how the target was reached.
  • NATO allies are expected to discuss Italy's approach and a credible roadmap for meeting future spending goals at the upcoming summit.