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Italy’s government is considering reclassifying a long-discussed €13.5 billion (approximately $14B) bridge to Sicily as a military project in a bid to help meet NATO’s new defense spending target of 5% of gross domestic product by 2035, a report said on Monday.

The proposal comes as Italy, which spent just 1.49% of its GDP on defense in 2023, faces pressure to significantly ramp up military-related investment, Politico reported.

Officials say the planned bridge over the Strait of Messina, set to be the world’s longest suspension bridge, could serve dual civilian and strategic purposes.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini argue the bridge would boost NATO military mobility by enabling the rapid transfer of troops and equipment between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

"Infrastructure is also strategic from a security perspective in many ways," Salvini said, confirming the bridge could count toward Italy’s NATO commitments.

A government report in April described the bridge as crucial not only for public interest but also for "national and international security."

Officials hope its inclusion as a defense-related asset could help bypass bureaucratic hurdles and unlock new financing.

While only 3.5% of the NATO target must be spent on core defense, member states may allocate up to 1.5% for strategic infrastructure, a loophole Italy may use.

An Italian Treasury official said such a designation could allow Rome to accelerate the long-delayed project and minimize legal challenges from local authorities.

Despite government enthusiasm, opposition figures have criticized the move.

"This is a mockery of citizens and NATO commitments," said Giuseppe Antoci, a member of the European Parliament from the left-populist Five Star Movement.

He warned that rebranding the bridge as a military necessity would damage Italy’s credibility.

Critics also question the project’s logic, noting it connects two of Italy’s poorest regions, Sicily and Calabria, where basic infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

“The population suffers from inadequate water infrastructure, potholed roads, and underfunded hospitals,” Antoci said.

Tajani has suggested naming the bridge after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a longtime proponent of the plan.

Italy has also asked the EU to include the bridge in its military mobility plans, though it currently lies outside NATO’s designated military corridor.

Final government approval for the project is expected in July.