In an interview published on June 5, Crosetto stated, "The world has changed," emphasizing that NATO must consider new strategic partners. He argued that NATO should not remain solely a military alliance centered on Europe and North America.
Crosetto remarked, "NATO was created to provide security and stability to a region of the world. Now, we need an organization that can ensure safety and stability globally." He insisted that NATO should not continue to be a "club for global northern elites."
However, his comments do not suggest an immediate push for NATO membership for countries like South Korea. Instead, they highlight the need to reassess NATO's role and scope. According to Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO membership is currently limited to European countries that can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. For nations outside Europe, such as South Korea and Japan, formal membership would require changes to the existing treaty and consensus among member states.
Crosetto also proposed a European self-defense initiative, which he described as a plan for a "European continental defense" involving 40 countries, including the 27 European Union member states, along with the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey, and Ukraine. He submitted this proposal to defense ministers and NATO leaders in April.
He clarified that this initiative is not intended to replace NATO but to enhance Europe's defense responsibilities within the alliance. The urgency for such measures has increased following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and discussions by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential reductions of American troops stationed in Europe, prompting European nations to strengthen their own defense capabilities.
Crosetto noted that the U.S. has not officially notified the Italian government of any troop withdrawals. However, he acknowledged that the U.S. is demanding increased defense spending. He highlighted ongoing debates in Italy regarding military versus welfare spending, stating, "We need to explain to voters that the world we live in is much more unstable and unsafe than it was ten years ago."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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