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6 Mar, 01:37

Italian economy minister warns against thoughtless defense spending

"Europe’s defense requires an elaborate program of investments into the defense infrastructure rather than hasty measures with no logic," Giancarlo Giorgetti said

ROME, March 6. /TASS/. Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti has warned against mindless spending on European defense.

"Europe’s defense requires an elaborate program of investments into the defense infrastructure rather than hasty measures with no logic. It is important to have reason and not to yield to a syndrome that once pushed to purchasing a flood of vaccines at incredible prices, with part of them being disposed of. Later, the same happened to gas. These mistakes were made because of the chaos and turmoil, which should be avoided," the ANSA agency quoted him as saying at an economic forum organized by the Lega party.

"Drones and supersonic missiles are not sold in a supermarket. This takes years-long investment programs. We need big, serious and well-thought-out investments and it will be difficult to find a way of implementing this task without the United States," he added.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a letter to the leaders of the 27 EU countries presenting her 800-billion-euro plan for rearming Europe. This plan will be discussed at the EU emergency summit on March 6.