Italy will cut €450 million (U.S. $512.3 million) from its planned defense spending in 2019 by suspending helicopter and missile purchases and canceling an office move by the defense ministry to help shore up social welfare and tax cuts, a defense source has told Defense News. ...
To free up funds to cover spending, Rome has made its cut to the defense budget, just as most European states are increasing their military outlay.
Given Russian efforts to outflank NATO in the Mediterranean Sea, that is highly unfortunate.
The Russian threat can be countered and defeated in case of war, but there has to be something to counter and defeat the Russians.
