Explainer: Italy’s role in NATO air defence to Ukraine

Support for Ukraine. At the NATO summit in Washington D.C., Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received commendations from U.S. President Joe Biden and other allies for Italy’s contributions to Ukraine’s air defence.

• In response to recent escalations in Kyiv, where attacks have forced children to seek shelter outside a hospital, PM Meloni, along with other leaders from Germany, Romania, and the Netherlands, announced a joint effort to enhance Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
• The joint statement, signed by the leaders of these nations, US President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, outlined additional strategic air defence systems. This includes new Patriot batteries from the U.S., Germany, and Romania, as well as components from the Netherlands and other partners.
• Italy has pledged to supply an additional SAMP-T system, further bolstering Ukraine’s defences against Russian attacks.

Defence priorities. PM Meloni emphasised that focusing on air defence is crucial for protecting civilians and critical infrastructure from ongoing Russian aggression.

• Highlighting the recent attack on a hospital in Kyiv, Meloni stressed the importance of defending non-combatants and essential services.
• “This air defence work primarily defends the civilian population. It’s a commitment we made with the SAMP-T and continue to uphold,” Meloni stated.

Italy’s NATO pledge. The summit also addressed NATO’s defence spending target of 2% of GDP.

• While Italy had previously postponed this target to 2028, Meloni confirmed the nation’s readiness to honour this commitment, stressing the importance of defence investments for national security.
• Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called for European rules to exclude defence spending from the stability pact, arguing that this would allow Italy more flexibility in meeting its defence goals.
• Italy is strongly interested in the proposal to appoint a NATO special envoy for the southern neighbourhood.