Italy finds $16 billion loophole to hit Trump’s 5% defense spending pledge: A bridge to Sicily

Italy’s got a plan to beef up its defense spending to 5% of GDP.

And if you believe that, they’ve got a bridge in Sicily to sell you.

Italy said it will meet President Trump’s new demands on NATO members to spend much more on defense. But there’s a $16 billion catch, according to Politico.

The Italian government is planning on reclassifying a planned bridge across the Strait of Messina as a national security expenditure. Photo by Gabriele Maricchiolo/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The country could reclassify a proposal for the world’s longest suspension bridge as national security expenditure, the news outlet reported.

Rome has one of the smallest military budgets within the alliance by percentage — with only 1.49% of GDP going to

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