While maintaining a strictly Atlanticist line, the Italian government does not give up on highlighting some of the problems that are characterizing the Atlantic Alliance. “One of the most significant lessons learned from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is that the transatlantic defense industry is currently unable to meet the demand that arises from the need to replenish or expand stockpiles, as well as to modernize military tools to maintain technological superiority over Russian, Chinese, Iranian or North Korean production,” he declared a few hours ago Guido Crosettospeaking to the Chamber of Deputies, during a briefing on the NATO summit in Washington.
Not only that. The Minister of Defense also expressed some criticism on how the Atlantic Alliance is dealing with the Mediterranean. He first expressed “perplexity” over the appointment of the Spaniard Javier Colomina to the special representative for the South by the outgoing NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. The minister also complained about the lack of “concrete measures” for the southern flank of the Atlantic Alliance. Italy, he continued Little crosshas always tried to underline the need for a global approach by NATO: an approach that does not focus on a single front but that takes into account how the Russians and Chinese are expanding their dangerous influence also on the African continent.
Land the minister’s words hit some points of considerable interest. And, in all likelihood, they lay the foundations for the debate that will take place in the future within the Atlantic Alliance. NATO leadership will soon pass to the Dutch Mark Rutte. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that a changing of the guard at the White House will occur in November: it is clear that a possible return of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States would also have repercussions on the internal dynamics of the Alliance. It is in this context of changes that Little cross has raised its double alarm: the inadequacy of the transatlantic defense industry and the lack of interest that many NATO members still have in the wider Mediterranean, not understanding how this quadrant is inextricably intertwined with the Ukrainian crisis. Unfortunately, in recent years, the weak leadership of Joe Biden.
This is why a possible return of Trump might not turn out to be the disaster that many simplistically fear for NATO. Of course: the Republican candidate would demand more forcefully that all member countries reach the 2% threshold for financial contributions to the Alliance. On the other hand, however, he might prove to be more willing to bet on Italy for the stabilization of the Middle East and North Africa: areas that, on the other hand, the current American administration is leaving in turmoil. It is good that Rome is ready when the Alliance is reformed, carving out a leading role for itself. The alarm clock sounded today by Little cross so it’s going in the right direction.
