Italy intends to create a reserve force of 10,000 servicemen as part of the country’s efforts to strengthen its armed forces and fulfill its NATO commitments regarding defense spending. This was reported by Euractiv.
On June 18, Nino Minardo, chairman of the Defense Committee of the lower house of parliament, announced that starting July 8, the government and opposition parties will join forces to develop a joint bill providing for the creation of a voluntary auxiliary reserve. The main goal of this reserve is to engage trained former servicemen who can be quickly mobilized in case of emergencies.
The Austrian model is being considered as an example, where Vienna has a reserve force of up to 35,000 people who are required to undergo 30 days of annual training for at least five years with the employer’s consent.
Currently, Italy has about 160,000 active servicemen. This number is lower than in France, Germany, or Poland, but higher than in Spain and Greece. In March, Defense Minister Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone noted that this number is “still insufficient,” emphasizing that “even with 170,000, we are operating on the edge of survival.”
“I will ask for more troops until they throw me out.”
– Giuseppe Cavo Dragone
According to the national budget, Italy’s defense spending is expected to reach 1.57% of GDP in 2025. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently stated that the country plans to reach NATO’s 2% target already this year.
Analysts note that this figure is based on an expanded interpretation of military expenditures, which includes not only the core defense budget but also funding for overseas missions, military pensions, and other related items.