RT.com
01 Jul 2025, 18:13 GMT+10
The planned overpass to Sicily lies outside of the US-led bloc's military mobility corridor in the country
Italian authorities are looking to classify a long-term project to construct a bridge connecting the mainland to the island of Sicily as a NATO expenditure amid their struggle to meet the bloc's spending goals, according to Politico.
The idea of creating an overpass to the largest island in the Mediterranean had been discussed in Italy for many decades, but its realization has been hampered by high costs, the difficulty of operating in a seismic zone and other issues. If built by the current government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the 3.6-km-long suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina will become the longest in the world.
In its article on Monday, Politico described Italy as "one of NATO's lowest military spenders," with Rome investing only 1.49% of its GDP in defense last year, a far cry from the 5% goal approved at the bloc's summit in The Hague in June.
Marking the $13.5 billion bridge as a NATO spending could help Meloni meet the bloc's 5% target and, at the same time, "convince a war-wary public of the need for major defense outlays at a time when Italy is already inching toward austerity," the article read.
An unnamed Italian government official told the outlet that no formal decision has yet been made by Rome on classifying the bridge as a security project, but further talks would likely be held soon to "see how feasible this feels."
According to another official from the Italian Treasury, who also talked to Politico, the new designation of the project would make raising money for it easier and would also "override bureaucratic obstacles, litigation with local authorities that could challenge the government in court claiming that the bridge will disproportionately damage their land."
The problem for Rome is that the Strait of Messina lies outside of Italy's only designated NATO military mobility corridor, the article pointed out.
However, the Italian case is backed by the fact that only 3.5% from the NATO spending target must be allocated for core military needs, while the remaining 1.5% could be steered toward broader strategic resilience projects, including infrastructure.
READ MORE: EU country calls for dialogue with Russia
"Whether NATO - and more importantly, US President Donald Trump, who loves a big building project - will buy into that logic is another matter," Politico noted.
Get a daily dose of Yorkshire Observer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Yorkshire Observer.
More InformationSYDNEY, NSW, Australia - , Australian Federal Police (AFP) have shut down a secret drug lab in Sydney's west and seized more than 100kg...
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 1 (ANI): Israel's military chief, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, has advised cabinet ministers against ordering the Israel...
The war with Israel last month decimated a senior echelon of Irans military leadership, crippled its air defenses, and exposed the...
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the prosecution in Moldova of regional head Yevgenia Gutsul as politically motivated repression...
Why Trump managed to settle the conflict in the Middle East but not in Eastern Europe US President Donald Trump secured his image...
Washington, DC [US], July 1 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the sidelines...
(250701) -- ORLANDO, July 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Ali Lajami (R) of Al Hilal saves the ball during the round of 16 match between Manchester...
ORLANDO, 1st July, 2025 (WAM) -- Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal sent English giants Manchester City crashing out of the Club World Cup...
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest stealth frigate, INS Tamal, in Russia on Tuesday....
Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 1 (ANI): NorthEast United FC, one of the founding members of the Indian Super League (ISL), have experienced...
Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) [India], June 30 (ANI): Australian striker Jordan Murray has officially parted ways with Jamshedpur FC, according...
Florida [US], June 30 (ANI): Harry Kane scored twice to guide Bayern Munich to a 4-2 victory over Flamengo at the Club World Cup in...