Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has called for a rethinking of NATO’s role and structure, stating that the North Atlantic Alliance has lost its relevance in today’s world in its current form.
Speaking at a conference in Padua, Italy, Crosetto said that “NATO no longer makes sense in its current form,” since the Atlantic region is no longer the center of global politics. His remarks were reported by Sky TG24.
The U.S. and Europe used to be the center, but now there is everything else that we must build relationships with, the minister noted.
According to Crosetto, if the Alliance wants to retain its significance, it must adapt to new global realities and work toward global security, including engaging in dialogue with the so-called Global South. Otherwise, he believes, NATO’s original goals—ensuring peace and collective defense—will remain unachievable.
If NATO becomes an organization that takes on the task of ensuring security in a broader international context, then it becomes something fundamentally different. It must be an alliance that operates according to universal rules, he explained.
Crosetto also voiced skepticism about Europe’s influence on the global stage:
Europe’s time has passed, and I say this with sadness. The UN today has the same relevance as Europe—virtually none. Less than China, less than India, and even less than Israel, the minister stated.
His comments come amid NATO’s ongoing efforts to maintain unity in the face of growing skepticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned the need for continued American support for the alliance.
