Italy says it is not ready to increase military spending to 5% of GDP

Italy is not ready to increase military spending to 5% of GDP, as demanded by US President Donald Trump. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on February 4.

"We are ready to reach 2%, but in no way 5%, even taking into account that we are the country with the largest number of soldiers on missions abroad," Tajani said in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper.

According to him, the increase in military spending can be achieved through the issuance of Eurobonds, at the expense of unused funds of the EU fund for recovery from the pandemic and the European Stability Mechanism, as well as through the withdrawal of these expenditures from the criteria of the stability pact.

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On the eve of the European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said that the EC will not react in case the member states violate financial discipline in defense spending. According to von der Leyen, countries will have more budgetary space to increase defense spending.

On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to double the country's defense budget. He added that the top priority is the security of national borders.

On January 21, Trump said he would push North Atlantic Treaty member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP and spend more than Washington to support Ukraine.