Ready for The Hague Summit
Rome expresses doubts about NATO's validity
Milan (AP) – Founding nation Italy is challenging the very essence of the Western defense union, NATO, ahead of the upcoming gathering. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto proclaimed in the Northern Italian city of Padua, "NATO has no reason to exist as it is." Times have evolved, he asserted, with the USA and EU no longer being the world's epicenter. "NATO must adapt to the ever-changing times." Collaboration with the global South is essential for maintaining peace and mutual defense.
As one of the original 12 nations, Italy has been part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since its inauguration in 1949. In The Hague next week, the now 32 NATO members will convene, with U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance. Crosetto, being a Member of the right-wing ruling party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) and an ally of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, shares her views.
Criticism of EU as well
At his speaking engagement at the University of Padua, Crosetto evaluated the European Union's role as well: "We continue to speak as if we're still in the past, as if nothing's changed. We talk about Europe as if it still matters. Perhaps it could have in the past, but it didn't. If it had taken a political role, an external policy, or defense, its time would not have passed."
Meloni, who assumed power in Rome in 2022, faced significant criticism of the EU. However, she has proven to be a reliable partner since then, even in Ukraine policy. The Fratelli leader leads a coalition of three right-wing and conservative parties.
Enrichment Data:
- Crosetto's statements indicate a call for NATO to evolve, adapting to contemporary geopolitical realities. He questions NATO's traditional structures, which he believes no longer align with the 21st century's politics, prioritizing broader and more inclusive security cooperation beyond the Euro-Atlantic focus [1][3][4].
- He argues that NATO needs a fundamental transformation to ensure peace and mutual defense, advocating for collaboration with the Global South [3][5].
- Crosetto suggests that NATO's new roles should encompass negotiation and regulation among a broader range of countries, which would fundamentally change the alliance's nature [4].
- European debates surround defense spending commitments, notably ahead of the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague. Crosetto's perspective shows skepticism toward the alliance's current direction and structure [4][5].
- Meloni, in alignment with Crosetto, appears to advocate for Italy's readjustment within NATO and EU frameworks, emphasizing adaptation and cooperation with emerging global powers outside traditional Western alliances [5].
- Both Crosetto and Meloni advocate for a redefined role of Italy within NATO and the EU, pushing for the alliance to move beyond its Cold War-era paradigms towards embracing a multipolar world that includes stronger engagement with the Global South and a recognition of shifting global power centers [1][3][4][5].
"Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto proposes a reevaluation of NATO's role towards adapting to contemporary geopolitical realities, advocating for broader security cooperation and collaboration with the Global South. This call for change in NATO's nature and structures aligns with European debates, particularly around defense spending commitments and the alliance's direction for the upcoming 2025 NATO summit in The Hague."
"Crosetto's statements also reflect his and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's advocacy for Italy's realignment within NATO and EU frameworks, particularly emphasizing a move beyond Cold War-era paradigms towards a multipolar world that includes stronger engagement with the Global South and a recognition of shifting global power centers."
