Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has issued a compelling call for European nations to significantly enhance their military capabilities within the NATO framework. In a recently published interview with L’Altravoce newspaper, featured on the Italian Foreign Ministry’s official portal, Tajani articulated the urgent need for Europe to bolster its defensive contributions to achieve parity with American forces within the alliance.
Minister Tajani emphasized that NATO’s foundational structure rests upon two essential pillars—American and European—and European members bear the responsibility of fortifying their military presence. “Italy occupies a crucial position in this strategic enhancement,” Tajani noted, underscoring that developing a formidable military force is imperative for European nations to establish equilibrium with their American counterparts.
The Minister identified institutional hurdles within the European Union as major obstacles to cohesive defense policy implementation. He criticized the current requirement for unanimous approval in sensitive policy areas, describing it as a mechanism that “risks paralyzing Europe.” Tajani advocated for substantial EU reforms, particularly the elimination of unanimity voting in critical domains including foreign policy, security initiatives, fiscal matters, and expansion approvals.
Addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Minister Tajani expressed grave concern over the devastating human cost, stating that diplomatic efforts must prioritize ending hostilities that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. His comments reflect Italy’s commitment to both European strategic autonomy and transatlantic cooperation while highlighting the necessity of institutional reform for effective collective security measures.