NATO summit in The Hague, Meloni: ‘Italy ready to do its part.’ Military spending at 3.5% of GDP

The prime minister relaunches the ‘European pillar of NATO’ and puts the brakes on parallel defence. Pressure from Trump and tensions with Spain. Iran-Israel and Ukraine crises among the hot topics

“Si vis pacem, para bellum”: the Latin phrase chosen by Giorgia Meloni in the Senate sets the tone for the NATO summit in The Hague, where the 32 countries of the Alliance are preparing to formalise the largest increase in military spending since the post-Cold War era. The goal is ambitious: to reach 3.5% of GDP in defence spending and 1.5% for security in the broad sense within ten years.

Italy aligned with the Alliance, but with reservations
Meloni reiterated Italy’s willingness to honour its commitments in the Senate and confirmed this yesterday evening upon her arrival in Amsterdam. She was welcomed by Ambassador Augusto Massari and the representative to the Atlantic Council, Marco Peronaci. Tajani and Crosetto were also with her. During the official dinner at Huis ten Bosch Palace with the Dutch sovereigns, the prime minister had the opportunity to discuss the Alliance’s strategic lines with the other leaders.

However, the Prime Minister also drew a clear line: no to a European defence parallel to NATO. “I want a European pillar of NATO,” she clarified in the Senate. “Duplication would be a mistake.” She also stressed that the challenge is not only economic but also technological: ‘In Ukraine, the best results come from €20,000 drones. We need to invest in innovation and in European companies, Italian ones first and foremost, but with realism: if they are not ready, we will collaborate with our allies.”

Trump’s return and the domino effect on spending
Donald Trump, the expected star of the summit, has scored a political success: the 5% threshold for military spending, which he has been calling for since his first term, is now at the centre of the NATO discussion. This pressure has divided the Alliance: Rome is aligned, while Madrid is resisting. This is what emerged from the tense confrontation between Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who denied any exemptions for Spain.

Trump reposted on social media a screenshot of a message he received from Rutte, in which the former Dutch prime minister thanks him for “the peace achieved with Iran” and for his contribution to strengthening Europe’s commitment to defence. This passage sparked discussion behind the scenes at the summit, fuelling rumours of the tycoon’s direct influence on the Alliance’s new course.

Iranian crisis, Ukraine and military diplomacy
Today, Meloni will participate in a closed-door meeting between the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Ukraine and Rutte. Among the issues on the table are Ukraine’s path to NATO membership, described by Rutte as “irreversible”, and the evolution of the Middle East crisis. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced the end of the “twelve-day war imposed by Israel”, reigniting the debate on the terms of the truce.

Trump has reaffirmed his leadership in mediating between Tel Aviv and Tehran, while anticipation grows for a possible meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, after the failed handshake at the G7 in Canada. A face-to-face meeting that could become symbolic, in a NATO increasingly redefined by the moves of the American president.

The Italian opposition: ‘If you want peace, prepare for peace’
In Italy, meanwhile, the opposition is contesting the increase in military spending. Elly Schlein quoted the Constitution: “Italy repudiates war”. From The Hague, Giuseppe Conte signed a document with 15 other European parties against rearmament. The alternative message is clear: “If you want peace, prepare for peace”, in clear response to Meloni’s statement.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)