Questioning the Status Quo: Italian Minister Guido Crosetto Disputes NATO's Relevance in its Current Form
Minister Meloni asserted NATO's existing framework lacks justification, questioning its purpose.
Italy, originally one of NATO's founding members, is shaking up the Western defense alliance with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto challenging NATO's necessity in its current state. As the September NATO summit approaches, Crosetto has stated: "NATO no longer has a justification to exist." He argues that the world's center of power has shifted, and NATO must adapt to changing times. For peace and mutual defense, Crosetto emphasizes the importance of cooperation with the global south.
Crosetto's comments appear to resonate with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy's ruling Fratelli d'Italia party. While Meloni has been a vocal critic of the EU, she has proved to be a reliable partner, particularly in the Ukraine policy. As Italy faces the challenge of meeting defense spending targets, Crosetto acknowledges that raising spending to the 3-3.5% GDP target may be difficult for Italy in the near future. However, he suggests that an increase should be the ultimate goal.
Looking beyond NATO, Crosetto also expresses a desire for a stronger, more integrated European defense system. This system would involve EU states, neighboring countries such as Turkey and Norway, potentially forming a more significant alliance that transcends political Europe. Crosetto's views mirror concerns about NATO's relevance and future direction as the strategic landscape shifts.
Meanwhile, Spain has announced it will not adhere to NATO's plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. The decision was made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte of this in a letter.
In a speech at the University of Padua, Crosetto raised doubts about the EU's role, criticizing the inaction of the EU as it remains consumed by past discussions. He suggested that the EU's time has passed, and he speaks with a note of sadness.
Sources: ntv.de, ses/dpa
- Italy
- NATO
- Giorgia Meloni
Background
While Italy intends to meet its 2% GDP defense spending target for this year through accounting adjustments, more significant increases may be under discussion for the future. Minister Crosetto advocates for European defense system integration, with a "greater alliance" that might compete more efficiently with the US and Russia. Crosetto's criticisms of NATO as outdated and burden-sharing echo those made by US President Donald Trump and align with broader debates about NATO's structure and future.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding Italy's defense strategy, as politics revolving around NATO's relevance and the future of European defense systems continue to dominate general-news discussions. In the midst of these debates, Minister Crosetto's advocacy for a more integrated European defense system transcending political Europe shows a shift in Italy's diplomatic stance.
