Latest news with #CENSIS
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Only one in six Italians ready to fight
Only 16% of Italians are willing to fight for their country in the event of war, according to a survey by the Center for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS) published on Friday. Almost a third of respondents believe Italy will be drawn into a conflict within the next five years, but fewer than one in six of those of fighting age say they would take up arms, the poll suggests. The figure is 21% among men, and 12% among women. The findings come as NATO countries continue to pledge to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes.' Since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, European defense budgets have reached record highs. Several countries have reintroduced or are considering conscription. Sweden and Lithuania have reinstated mandatory military service; Germany and Poland are debating similar measures. The study found that 39% of Italians identify as pacifists, while more than a third would either outsource defense to foreign mercenaries or flee. Most said they would prioritize survival; 81% would seek bomb shelters, 78% would stockpile food, and 27% would obtain a weapon for self-defense. US President Donald Trump has urged NATO members to meet and exceed spending targets and accelerate arms deliveries to Ukraine, calling for 'a new era of burden-sharing' among alliance partners. Italy has pledged to raise its military budget, which reached $35.6 billion in 2024, or 1.5% of GDP – a 46% increase over the past decade. It acknowledged, however, that it has 'practically no funds' to contribute to Washington's plan to supply weapons to Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed claims that it intends to attack NATO as 'nonsense.' Putin has argued that Western governments are 'deceiving their populations' to justify their soaring defense budgets and to distract from 'their own economic failures.'
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Only 16pc of Italians would fight for their country
Only 16 per cent of Italians would be willing to fight for their country, a survey shows. The Centre for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS) found that almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but fewer than one in six of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms. After years of escalating geopolitical tensions and two ongoing wars nearby, in Ukraine and the Middle East, Italy has joined other Nato nations in pledging to ramp up national defence spending. But that has not translated to a fresh desire to join the military. Some 39 per cent of Italians aged between 18 and 45 would declare themselves as pacifist conscientious objectors in the event of war, while 19 per cent would try to evade conscription another way, and 26 per cent would prefer Italy to hire foreign mercenaries. Despite a 46 per cent rise in defence spending over the past decade, Italy is one of Nato's lowest military spenders, targeting only 1.49 per cent of its gross domestic product for its military last year. Italy has also refused to participate in Donald Trump's plan to send US-made weapons to Ukraine. Governments across Europe are pondering whether to take part in the $10bn initiative, which will involve Ukraine's allies on the continent, along with Canada, buying 'top of the range' weapons – including Patriot air defence systems – from Washington before giving them to Kyiv. The Italian government has stated that it will not purchase weapons but may assist with the logistics of transporting them to Ukraine, according to Italian media reports. 'Here, there has never been talk of buying American weapons,' the source quoted by the La Stampa newspaper said. To ensure Italy's security, 49 per cent of all Italians are in favour of strengthening Nato, while 58 per cent would like to see an integrated European Union defence system, with a single army, under a unified command and joint weapons procurement. Last month, Italy said it would count the £11 billion cost of a bridge to Sicily as defence spending to meet Nato's 5 per cent of GDP military expenditure target. Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, is in the process of rebadging the ailing project to build a crossing over the Strait of Messina as a strategic decision vital for the Western alliance's presence in the Mediterranean. She has argued that the bridge would strengthen Europe's defences by facilitating easier troop movements to the four military bases in Sicily. By listing the crossing as a military asset, it can be counted towards the new Nato goal, which demands fresh expenditure on defence-related infrastructure. The move mirrors efforts by Sir Keir Starmer to boost Britain's defence spending by reclassifying swathes of infrastructure projects as vital to national security. The Prime Minister will use any Government expenditure on rural broadband and the expansion of Heathrow airport to meet Nato's goal of spending 1.5 per cent of GDP on defence-related infrastructure.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Only 16% of Italians would fight for their country, survey shows
MILAN - Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms, a survey showed on Friday. The survey by the Centre for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS) showed 39% of Italians aged between 18 and 45 would declare themselves as pacifist conscientious objectors, 19% would try to evade conscription another way, and 26% would prefer Italy to hire foreign mercenaries. After years of escalating geopolitical tensions and two ongoing nearby wars, in Ukraine and the Middle East, Italy has joined other NATO nations in pledging to ramp up national defence spending. However, most Italians remain sceptical of rearmament. Just 26% believe that military deterrence is a good way to ensure peace, while only 25% support increased military budgets even if it means cutting welfare. A mere 11% would like the country to have nuclear weapons. Despite a 46% rise in defence spending over the past decade, per capita expenditure in Italy remains comparatively low at 586 dollars, the survey said. That compares with 686 dollars in Greece and over 2,000 dollars in countries such as the United States or Norway. To ensure Italy's security, 49% of all Italians are in favour of strengthening NATO, while 58% would like to see an integrated European Union defence system, with a single army, under a unified command and joint weapons procurement. Another poll published last month by the European Council of Foreign Relations showed that only 17% of Italians support increasing defence spending, the lowest proportion among 12 European countries surveyed. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore Who is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Former NUH male nurse faces charges after he allegedly molested man at hospital
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Only 16% of Italians would fight for their country, survey shows
MILAN, July 18 (Reuters) - Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms, a survey showed on Friday. The survey by the Centre for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS) showed 39% of Italians aged between 18 and 45 would declare themselves as pacifist conscientious objectors, 19% would try to evade conscription another way, and 26% would prefer Italy to hire foreign mercenaries. After years of escalating geopolitical tensions and two ongoing nearby wars, in Ukraine and the Middle East, Italy has joined other NATO nations in pledging to ramp up national defence spending. However, most Italians remain sceptical of rearmament. Just 26% believe that military deterrence is a good way to ensure peace, while only 25% support increased military budgets even if it means cutting welfare. A mere 11% would like the country to have nuclear weapons. Despite a 46% rise in defence spending over the past decade, per capita expenditure in Italy remains comparatively low at 586 dollars, the survey said. That compares with 686 dollars in Greece and over 2,000 dollars in countries such as the United States or Norway. To ensure Italy's security, 49% of all Italians are in favour of strengthening NATO, while 58% would like to see an integrated European Union defence system, with a single army, under a unified command and joint weapons procurement. Another poll published last month by the European Council of Foreign Relations, opens new tab showed that only 17% of Italians support increasing defence spending, the lowest proportion among 12 European countries surveyed.
