Maneuver 2027, the analysis: "Military spending will rise to 40 billion, it's a record"

According to the analysis conducted by the Milex observatory, the main data that pushes towards this record is the growth of the Ministry of Defense's own budget: in fact this alone reaches 38.8 billion, with an increase of approximately 6.4 billion compared to the 32.4 billion in 2026 and of 4.5 billion - 0.19% of the GDP envisaged in the Budget Plan - compared to the 34.3 billion of the Defense budget expected under current legislation.

Furthermore, the analysis also shows that more than half of the increase is due to greater investments in the purchase of armaments. Driving the increase that brings Italian military spending beyond the 40 billion threshold are in fact the increased expenditure on armaments: between the Ministry of Defense and that of Business and Made in Italy, in 2027 the costs will go from 13.2 to 17.2 billion.

Looking further at the available data, other figures also emerge from the refinancing tables of the budget law itself: here, for example, NATO infrastructure is included, but also the military forces ready to intervene quickly in the event of a crisis. The Budget Law puts another 865.5 million euros on the table in the two-year period 2027-2028 to strengthen investments in the Atlantic Alliance and the response capacity of the Italian Armed Forces.

Looking at the details of these expenses, it emerges that 134.8 million are expected for the Atlantic Alliance's infrastructure program in 2027 and 196.7 million in 2028, classified as investments. Instead, 267 million go to the rapid response forces for each of the two years, intended for current spending and therefore for operation and operational needs.

The data on military spending provoked a reaction from the group leaders of the 5 Star Movement of the Defense Commissions of the Chamber and Senate: the two explained that Minister Crosetto sent to Parliament together with the Budget Law some arms acquisition decrees signed by him, "including the one for the purchase of another 25 F-35 fighter-bombers in addition to the 90 planned, for a cost of 7.3 billion over the next 13 years, of which 1.2 billion in the next three years. The 5 Star Movement is ready to put up the barricades, because citizens' money cannot be spent like this while cuts are made on schools, healthcare and pensions".

The words of Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein are also critical: "This is a maneuver that increases military spending by 14 billion but cuts public health and we will not allow it. The thread that unites these struggles is the need for a response to the discomfort that is bringing people to the streets. The right with Trump has revealed its true face. Trump has betrayed his promises: to end wars and lower the cost of living. Wherever the right governs they bring wars, inflation, recession, chaos. We are the ones who have to offer social protection, carrying forward united battles. We want to make Italy a country where you can afford waiting lists for rent, with the minimum wage."