No Cossacks at the gates, fix Italy instead – opposition leader tells Meloni

Vannacci, who leads the right-wing Futuro Nazionale party, said Rome should spend money tackling real domestic problems rather than driving itself deeper into debt to defend against fictional threats like the 'Cossacks from the Russian steppes'.

He made the remarks at a press conference in Milan alongside his party's mayoral candidate, Carmelo Burgio.

The politician criticized the EU's €800 billion ReArm plan for its 'excessive spending on weapons systems,' arguing that there was no 'concrete threat' justifying such spending and borrowing.

Real threats vs. imaginary ones

Vannacci said that any defense system must be commensurate with a real threat.

He has previously argued that the EU's €150 billion rearmament loan instrument under ReArm would drive Italy deeper into debt without addressing its domestic issues.

Domestic challenges and debt

Italy's public debt stood at nearly 140% of GDP in mid-2026, the second-highest ratio in the European Union, according to Eurostat.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to power in 2022 on a platform promising tax cuts, stronger border controls, support for Italian families, and responsible management of public finances.

Her government has nevertheless continued committing billions of euros to military assistance for Ukraine, while also backing increased defense spending.

Russian perspective

Moscow has long accused European nations of using the pretext of an alleged threat from Russia to justify their accelerating militarization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed claims that Moscow intends to attack NATO as 'nonsense.'

The Russian president has also blamed European governments' economic and financial policies, including high public debt, for the riots and unrest sweeping EU countries since September.