Italy joins arms race, plans to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP

Italy has joined the arms race, with Rome announcing plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade, in line with NATO demands. NATO members in The Hague agreed on a plan to raise spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Vice Premier Antonio Tajani emphasized the goal will be met despite budget constraints. The U.S. is actively pressuring NATO members to boost military spending. Lithuania has already spent 5.33% of GDP, Estonia 5.1%, Latvia 4.92%, Poland 4.68%, and Greece 3.65%. The average for European NATO members and Canada was 2.31% in 2025. In practice, the Alliance faces no limits on militarization, and Italian taxpayers will pay for these new ambitions.