News from Italy
NATO Ankara Summit: A New Strategic Phase for Italy
by Andira Vitale
The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara was not merely a meeting focused on the war in Ukraine and ongoing international crises. The summit represented an important step in reshaping Europe’s security architecture at a time marked by the return of strategic competition with Russia, growing pressure from Washington on European allies, and the urgent need to strengthen the continent’s defence capabilities.
For Italy, the summit carried particular significance. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sought to reinforce Rome’s position as a key actor in European security, maintaining its historic ties with the United States and NATO while also arguing that Europe must develop stronger independent defence capabilities.
Russia at the centre of NATO’s new strategic outlook
One of the most important messages emerging from the summit was NATO’s assessment of Russia as a long-term strategic threat to the Euro-Atlantic area.
The Alliance reaffirmed that Moscow represents one of the main challenges to allied security, not only because of the war in Ukraine but also due to broader concerns involving European stability, energy security, hybrid operations, cyber threats and Russia’s military presence in strategically important regions.
For Rome, this situation reinforces the importance of upholding the principle of collective defence enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which holds that an attack against one ally is an attack against all.
Italy supports strengthening NATO’s eastern flank but also insists that the Alliance’s southern flank cannot be neglected. The Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East remain areas of growing instability with direct consequences for European security.
Meloni: “Europe must ensure its own security”
After the summit, Giorgia Meloni delivered one of the most significant political messages of her participation in Ankara: “Europe’s time has come to ensure its own security. Not to do someone a favour, but to avoid depending on anyone. This is a matter of sovereignty.” The Italian prime minister’s words do not represent a departure from the United States but rather reflect Rome’s view that Europe must become a stronger, more capable partner within NATO. Italy supports a model in which European defence autonomy strengthens, rather than replaces, the transatlantic relationship. Defence spending: Rome confirms its commitments while protecting national priorities. On defence investment, Meloni confirmed that Italy will honour its NATO commitments. However, she stressed that the timing, methods and priorities of these decisions will remain under the authority of the Italian government.
Rome’s objective is twofold: to increase military capabilities required by the Alliance while protecting the strategic interests of Italy’s defence industry.
In this context, Italian companies such as Leonardo could play an increasingly important role in developing Europe’s future defence capabilities.
Italy and Türkiye: a strategic partnership in the Mediterranean
The Ankara Summit also highlighted the growing importance of relations between Italy and Türkiye. The two countries share common interests regarding Mediterranean security, regional stability and the strengthening of defence-industrial cooperation. For Rome, Ankara is not only an important NATO ally but also a key partner in managing crises affecting the wider Mediterranean region. Cooperation between Italy and Türkiye could become one of the pillars of Europe’s evolving security policy, particularly in areas such as military technology, naval capabilities and air defence.
Ukraine: Rome confirms continued support for Kyiv
Regarding Ukraine, Italy reaffirmed its intention to continue providing political and military support to Kyiv. Meloni stressed that defending Ukraine is also linked to the credibility of European security as a whole. For the Italian government, supporting Ukraine means upholding the principle that international borders cannot be changed by force.
Iran and the Middle East: Italy promotes diplomacy
Another distinctive element of Italy’s position concerns the crisis involving Iran. Meloni expressed concern over the possibility of further regional escalation and reiterated that diplomacy must remain at the centre of international efforts. Rome is therefore seeking to maintain a balanced role in the Mediterranean, avoiding direct involvement in new military escalations while supporting diplomatic channels.
Trump’s relationship and the challenge of transatlantic stability
Tensions between Meloni and US President Donald Trump also overshadowed the summit. Despite personal disputes and recent public statements, the Italian government chose to maintain an institutional approach, emphasising that the relationship between Italy and the United States extends beyond individual leaders. Rome’s strategy remains focused on preserving the transatlantic alliance while avoiding excessive dependence on Washington.
Conclusion: Italy seeks a leading role in Europe’s new security landscape
The NATO Summit in Ankara confirmed that Europe is entering a new strategic phase. Russia is viewed as a long-term challenge, while instability in the Middle East and the Mediterranean requires greater coordination and stronger European capabilities. In this environment, Italy aims to position itself as a bridge between different dimensions of security: NATO’s eastern flank, Mediterranean stability, relations with the United States and the development of greater European defence autonomy.
Meloni’s strategy is based on a difficult balance: remaining a reliable ally of Washington, strengthening Italy’s role within NATO and contributing to the construction of a Europe capable of defending itself more effectively.