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PoliticsItaly plans to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP within a decade: FM Tajani
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Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy intends to increase its defence spending to 5% of its GDP within the next ten years, up from the current level of approximately 2.1%. The statement was made during a joint session of the foreign affairs and defence committees of the Italian parliament, where a report on the recent NATO summit in Ankara (July 7-8, 2026) was also presented. Tajani confirmed Italy's commitment to the NATO agreement reached at last year's summit in The Hague, which set a target of 5% of GDP for defence spending by 2035. Under that agreement, 3.5% of GDP would be allocated to core defence, and 1.5% to related objectives such as critical infrastructure protection and civil defence. According to NATO estimates, Italian defence spending was 2.09% of GDP in 2025 and 2.10% in 2026.
Source report
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy intends to reach the NATO target of defence spending at 5% of GDP within ten years, while respecting budgetary constraints and the role of parliament.
Statement to Parliamentary Committees
Tajani made the statement during a meeting of the joint foreign affairs and defence committees of both houses of the Italian parliament.
“We intend to achieve the target of defence spending at a level of 5 per cent of GDP within a decade, while respecting budgetary constraints and the role of parliament.”
NATO Summit Context
During the session, a report was presented on the recent NATO summit, held on 7–8 July in Ankara. The Minister stated that Italy confirmed its commitment, undertaken by all Alliance member states during last year’s summit in The Hague.
At that time, NATO members agreed that defence spending would reach 5% of GDP by 2035, broken down as follows:
- 3.5% allocated to core defence
- 1.5% allocated to related objectives, such as the protection of critical infrastructure and civil defence
Current Spending Levels
According to NATO estimates, Italian defence spending in recent years has been:
- 2025: 2.09% of GDP
- 2026: 2.10% of GDP
By Patryk Jagnieża
Tags: NATO | Antonio Tajani | Italy | Defence Spending | NATO Summit | Ankara 2026
Source
Defence24.comWestern
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Italy Announces Plan to Increase Defence Spending to 5% of GDP Within a Decade