Italy's defence-spending target
remains 2% of GDP, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on
Wednesday when asked about United States President's Donald
Trump's call for NATO countries to lift it to 5%.
"We have not yet managed to reach 2%...for now our target is 2%,
the one officially set by NATO," Crosetto told reporters before
giving a statement to the Lower House on the war in Ukraine.
"The next NATO meeting will be at the end of June. We will see
if they set another target. For now it is 2%".
In the House, Crosetto reiterated Italy's support for Ukraine
following Russia's invasion.
"We are on the side of the people and not the criminals," he
said.
"This does not mean that we have forgotten our decades-long
friendship with Russia".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
