Italy’s Sicily-Mainland Bridge: A Misguided NATO Expenditure

Italy’s government has approved a €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) project to build the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting Sicily to the mainland across the Strait of Messina. The 3.7-kilometer bridge, with four traffic lanes and a double-track railway, is being framed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration as a strategic asset to meet NATO’s new 5% of GDP defense spending target. By classifying the bridge as defense-related infrastructure, Italy aims to count its cost toward the 1.5% of GDP allocated for strategic resilience within NATO’s framework. However, this decision is flawed, as the bridge’s military value is questionable, its financial burden is excessive, and its environmental risks are significant. NATO should not be funding bridges in Italy—or anywhere else—when such projects prioritize domestic agendas over genuine military needs.

A Dubious Strategic Justification

The Italian government claims the bridge will enhance “military mobility” by facilitating troop and equipment transport to NATO bases in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily, which hosts key alliance facilities. The bridge is described as “fundamental infrastructure” for rapid deployment to NATO’s southern flank. Yet, this rationale seems weak. NATO’s primary logistical concerns focus on troop mobility from Western Europe to the eastern front, not southward within Italy. The reclassification of the bridge as a defense asset appears to be a convenient way for Italy to meet NATO’s spending demands without increasing core military budgets. Italy, historically a lower defense spender, faces pressure to reach the new 5% target by 2035. By slotting the bridge into the strategic infrastructure category, Italy sidesteps fiscal constraints and politically sensitive defense hikes. This risks undermining NATO’s credibility, as member states could inflate their contributions with projects of questionable military relevance. NATO’s resources should prioritize proven capabilities—such as advanced weaponry, cybersecurity, or troop readiness—over speculative infrastructure.

A Troubled History

The Messina Strait bridge is not a new concept. First proposed in the 1960s and revived by successive governments, the project has repeatedly stalled due to technical, financial, and environmental challenges. The strait is one of Europe’s most seismically active zones, with a history of devastating earthquakes. Critics argue that the project lacks comprehensive hydrological, seismic, and environmental studies, raising concerns about its safety and utility. Local activists have pointed out that Sicily and Calabria suffer from underfunded basic services like water supply, healthcare, and local transport, which could be addressed with even a fraction of the bridge’s budget.

Concerns about mafia infiltration, a persistent issue in southern Italy’s large-scale projects, have also plagued the bridge’s history. Past attempts have been derailed by cost overruns—the price has ballooned from €4.4 billion in the early 2000s to €13.5 billion today—and bureaucratic obstacles. Framing the bridge as a NATO-related project may help bypass local litigation and environmental regulations, but it does not resolve these underlying risks. NATO’s involvement, even indirectly, risks entangling the alliance in Italy’s domestic political and economic challenges.

Economic and Environmental Concerns

Supporters, including Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, argue the bridge will drive economic growth in southern Italy, creating jobs and improving connectivity. However, Sicily and Calabria’s crumbling local infrastructure—potholed roads, outdated railways, and failing water systems—demands priority over a megaproject of questionable necessity. Experts have criticized the bridge’s design as neither the safest nor the most cost-effective solution, even if it holds some strategic value.

Environmentally, the bridge poses serious risks. The Strait of Messina’s strong currents and seismic activity complicate construction and maintenance, while the project’s footprint threatens local ecosystems. Opposition from residents facing land expropriation and environmentalists highlights the potential harm to the region’s landscape and communities. NATO, an alliance focused on security, should not divert resources to projects that exacerbate environmental vulnerabilities or fuel local discontent, especially when their military utility is uncertain.

NATO’s Misplaced Focus

NATO’s new 5% GDP spending target emphasizes core military capabilities (3.5%) and strategic resilience (1.5%). While infrastructure like roads and ports can support military logistics, NATO must distinguish between genuine defense needs and domestic projects rebranded for convenience. Other NATO members are also eyeing infrastructure investments to meet the 1.5% target, from bridge repairs to road networks. This trend risks turning NATO into a funding mechanism for national pet projects rather than a cohesive defense organization.

The strategic case for the Messina bridge as a NATO priority is weak. If Italy wants to strengthen its defense contribution, it should invest in capabilities that directly enhance NATO’s readiness, such as modernizing military hardware or improving cybersecurity, rather than a bridge that primarily serves domestic goals.

A Call for Accountability

Italy’s attempt to classify the Sicily-mainland bridge as NATO spending highlights a broader issue: the potential for member states to exploit flexible spending categories to avoid genuine defense investments. NATO should reject this approach and demand transparency in how members meet their commitments. The alliance’s credibility depends on prioritizing projects with clear military value, not enabling creative accounting that masks domestic priorities.

Instead of spending €13.5 billion on a bridge mired in decades of controversy, Italy should address its pressing regional needs and invest in defense capabilities aligned with NATO’s mission. The Messina Strait bridge may symbolize Italian ambition, but it is not a solution to NATO’s security challenges. The alliance must focus on real threats, not symbolic bridges.

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