Changes

Italy, under NATO's ISAF, maintains a Provincial Reconstruction Team in the western [[Afghanistan]] province of Herat, commands RC-West, and maintains a Carabinieri police training center. Italy supports reconstruction and development assistance to the Iraqi people through humanitarian workers and other officials, particularly in Dhi Qar Province, and is a leading contributor to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, with approximately 100 military personnel and Carabinieri police trainers. Currently almost 9,000 Italian troops are deployed, including 2,100 in Kosovo, 2,350 in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, and over 2,600 in Afghanistan.  It will send another 1000 troops for the surge in [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] in 2010.

Italy, under NATO's ISAF, maintains a Provincial Reconstruction Team in the western [[Afghanistan]] province of Herat, commands RC-West, and maintains a Carabinieri police training center. Italy supports reconstruction and development assistance to the Iraqi people through humanitarian workers and other officials, particularly in Dhi Qar Province, and is a leading contributor to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, with approximately 100 military personnel and Carabinieri police trainers. Currently almost 9,000 Italian troops are deployed, including 2,100 in Kosovo, 2,350 in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, and over 2,600 in Afghanistan.  It will send another 1000 troops for the surge in [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] in 2010.

On October 20, 2022 former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and leader of Italy's [[Five Star Movement]] party (M5S), urged against new arms deliveries to the [[Zelensky regime]] and called for a peaceful resolution of the [[Ukraine]] conflict.<ref>https://www.kaos.gr/2022/10/italys-m5s-leader-urges-against-new.html</ref>

On October 20, 2022, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and leader of Italy's [[Five Star Movement]] party (M5S), urged against new arms deliveries to the [[Zelensky regime]] and called for a peaceful resolution of the [[Ukraine]] conflict.<ref>https://www.kaos.gr/2022/10/italys-m5s-leader-urges-against-new.html</ref>

=== Military ===

=== Military ===

The Italian armed forces relied upon conscription for almost a hundred and fifty years, but mandatory service was abolished in 2005, moving them to a professionist, volunteer model.

The Italian armed forces relied upon conscription for almost a hundred and fifty years, but mandatory service was abolished in 2005, moving them to a professionist, volunteer model.

In early November 2023 Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, told lawmakers that the country cannot afford NATO’s demands for military spending. NATO is demanding that spending is increased from 1.46% of GDP to 2%. Crosetto said that this was impossible, and that spending will decrease in coming years.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-struggle-meet-nato-2-defence-spending-target-minister-2023-11-07/ Italy to struggle to meet NATO 2% defence spending target - minister], ''Reuters'', November 7, 2023.</ref>

In early November 2023 Italy's Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, told lawmakers that the country cannot afford NATO's demands for military spending. NATO is demanding that spending is increased from 1.46% of GDP to 2%. Crosetto said that this was impossible, and that spending will decrease in coming years.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-struggle-meet-nato-2-defence-spending-target-minister-2023-11-07/ Italy to struggle to meet NATO 2% defence spending target - minister], ''Reuters'', November 7, 2023.</ref>

==Economy==

==Economy==