Italy's defense ministry admits it lacks funds to maintain and train its forces while planning tens of billions in new weapons, and Germany faces similar readiness questions.
The Documento programmatico pluriennale (DPP) for 2026-2028 was signed by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. It reached Parliament on Tuesday, more than six months late, prompting the opposition to file an inquiry. The document acknowledges a "chronic underfunding" of maintenance, training and operations. It states that available resources do not allow the ministry to "effectively sustain the needs of the sector." This compromises the "efficiency levels of equipment" and the "readiness of the Armed Forces." Spending on "exercise" — maintenance and training — rose from 2025 but will fall from €2.57 billion in 2026 to €1.93 billion in 2028. That is a 25 percent drop over two years. The ministry attributes the shortfall to accumulated spending cuts and the state returning only part of the funds used to support Ukraine.
The same document outlines procurement plans through 2039, including €42.5 billion for aircraft, helicopters and drones and €22.3 billion for tanks and ground vehicles. It also allocates €20.3 billion for ships and maritime systems and €14 billion for weapons, ammunition and missiles. Specific projects include over €11 billion for F-35s, €8.77 billion for the future GCAP fighter and more than €4.2 billion for anti-missile systems. The plan allocates €13.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades through 2039. The ministry says current funds remain insufficient for operational readiness, including for 42 international missions with about 15,500 troops. Only €1.31 billion is budgeted for these missions in 2026. The 2026-2028 budget law contains no new refinancing for armed forces modernization.
Italy told NATO it will spend €48.31 billion on defense in 2026, equal to 2.10 percent of GDP, meeting the alliance target. The ordinary defense budget is €32.42 billion. Adding funds from other ministries, international missions and PNRR resources brings the total to €36.79 billion. News agencies reported the target was reached only through a "reclassification of budget items in NATO terms," including pensions.
In Germany, a Die Zeit podcast published Thursday asks whether Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is investing his billions in the wrong priorities. The headline also questions why the Bundeswehr, Germany's federal defense forces, remains not "kriegstüchtig" four and a half years after the Zeitenwende. It asks whether demands such as "Drohnen statt Panzer" lead astray.
