Archive – Guido Crosetto
A chronological index of Guido Crosetto's public career: three decades of parliamentary activity, party building, industrial leadership and, since October 2022, ministerial stewardship of Italy's national defence.
Archive Index
Three Decades of Public Life
Parliamentary Period
Deputy for Cuneo through five legislatures; member of the Defence Committee; Undersecretary for Defence (2008–2011); legislative work on procurement and export control.
Jump to section ↓FdI & Industry Period
Co-founder and president of Fratelli d'Italia (2012); president of AIAD (defence industry association) 2014–2022; party builder and candidate for government.
Jump to section ↓Ministerial Period
Minister of Defence since October 2022; NATO summits; Ukraine assistance; defence budget; GCAP; bilateral diplomacy; Italy's armed forces modernisation.
Jump to section ↓1996–2012
Parliamentary Period
Crosetto's sixteen-year parliamentary career spanned five legislatures and culminated in a junior ministerial appointment during the Berlusconi IV government. He built his reputation as a defence specialist, particularly on procurement, industrial policy and Italy's obligations within NATO.
First Election to Chamber of Deputies
Elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the XIII Legislature, representing the Cuneo constituency for Forza Italia. Crosetto was 33 at the time of his first election. He joined the Defence Committee (Commissione Difesa della Camera), beginning a specialisation that would define his political career.
ParliamentXIII Legislature — Defence Committee Activity
During the XIII Legislature (1996–2001), Crosetto served as a member of the Defence Committee. He participated in hearings on Italian participation in the Kosovo air campaign (1999) and subsequent KFOR deployment, and in early debates on Italy's procurement of new military platforms. His parliamentary questions and speeches from this period are archived at camera.it.
Defence CommitteeRe-elected — XIV Legislature
Re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the 2001 general election as part of the centre-right Casa delle Libertà coalition. The XIV Legislature saw Italy contribute to the US-led campaign in Afghanistan and engage in debates about Italy's NATO commitments and deployments in the Balkans.
ParliamentRe-elected — XV Legislature; Centrodestra Opposition
Re-elected in 2006. With the centre-right in opposition during the XV Legislature under the Prodi II government, Crosetto took a more prominent role in parliamentary debate, serving as a vocal opposition critic of the government's defence policy, including debates over Italy's Afghanistan mission and defence budget cuts.
OppositionAppointed Undersecretary of State for Defence — Berlusconi IV Government
Following the centre-right's victory in the April 2008 elections, Crosetto was appointed Undersecretary of State for Defence (Sottosegretario di Stato alla Difesa) in the Berlusconi IV government, with responsibility for defence industry and procurement matters. This is his first executive appointment in government. He held this position until the government fell in November 2011.
Government UndersecretaryUndersecretary for Defence — Key Activities
During his tenure as Undersecretary, Crosetto was involved in the oversight of major procurement programmes including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (Italy committed to the programme under this government), the FREMM frigate programme, and export promotion for Italian defence industry. He developed close relationships with defence industry executives, military chiefs and international partners that would later inform his approach as full Minister.
Procurement F-35End of Berlusconi IV Government; Monti Technical Government
The Berlusconi IV government fell in November 2011 amid the European sovereign debt crisis. Mario Monti formed a technical government. Crosetto returned to the parliamentary back-benches. During the Monti period he was a vocal critic of defence budget cuts, arguing that austerity-driven reductions to defence investment were short-sighted and damaging to Italy's strategic capacity.
OppositionCo-founds Fratelli d'Italia
In December 2012, Crosetto co-founded Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) together with Giorgia Meloni and Ignazio La Russa. The new party positioned itself as the successor to the National Alliance and the Movimento Sociale Italiano tradition within the Italian right. Crosetto served as FdI's first president, lending his credibility and network to the party's initial establishment phase. Full biography →
FdI Founding2012–2022
Party Building and Industry Leadership
Between the founding of FdI and his appointment as Defence Minister, Crosetto divided his energy between building the new party and leading Italy's principal defence industry association — a combination that kept him at the intersection of politics and defence policy throughout a decade in opposition.
FdI's First General Election — 1.96% of Vote
Fratelli d'Italia contested the 2013 general election and won 1.96% of the vote — a modest but credible founding result. Crosetto was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. The XVI Legislature would see FdI begin the slow process of building an electoral base. Crosetto continued to serve on the Defence Committee.
FdI ParliamentAppointed President of AIAD
Crosetto was elected president of AIAD (Federazione Aziende Italiane per l'Aerospazio, la Difesa e la Sicurezza), Italy's principal defence and aerospace industry association, whose members include Leonardo, Fincantieri, Rheinmetall Italia, MBDA Italia and hundreds of SMEs. In this role he became the leading public advocate for Italian defence industry: representing the sector in parliamentary hearings, lobbying for procurement and export policies, and engaging internationally with NATO, EU and bilateral counterparts.
AIAD IndustryAIAD Presidency — Key Activities
Over eight years as AIAD president, Crosetto was a consistent presence in the defence industrial policy debate: testifying to parliamentary committees on procurement legislation; participating in international aerospace shows (Paris Air Show, Farnborough, MSPO Warsaw); engaging with NATO's defence industrial capacity working groups; and advocating for reforms to Italy's arms export licensing regime. He built an unmatched network across Italian industry, the armed forces and allied defence establishments.
Defence Industry Export PolicyFdI Grows to 4.35% — XVII Legislature
The 2018 general election saw FdI grow to 4.35% of the vote. The party returned MPs to the Chamber and Senate. Crosetto was re-elected. The formation of the Conte I government (Lega-M5S) placed FdI in a distinctive opposition position — neither part of the government nor aligned with the centre-left. This period accelerated FdI's growth as Giorgia Meloni consolidated her position as a coherent opposition figure.
FdIFdI Becomes Italy's Largest Single Party in Polls
By late 2021, with FdI consistently in opposition while other parties entered the Draghi national unity government, FdI's polling numbers had risen to first place. Crosetto's period as AIAD president — which he continued through this growth phase — meant he remained outside parliamentary life after choosing not to stand in by-elections, but was deeply engaged in FdI's political strategy and policy positioning.
FdI OppositionFdI Wins General Election — 26% of Vote
The 25 September 2022 general election resulted in a decisive centre-right victory led by FdI, which won 26% of the vote — the largest single-party vote share. Giorgia Meloni became Prime Minister-designate. Crosetto was widely tipped for a senior cabinet role and was confirmed as Defence Minister in the new government.
Election FdI2022–Present
Ministerial Period — Minister of Defence
Since October 2022, Crosetto has served as Italy's Minister of Defence. His tenure has coincided with Europe's most serious security crisis since the Cold War, requiring him to navigate Ukraine assistance, NATO burden sharing pressures, major procurement decisions and armed forces reform simultaneously.
Sworn in as Minister of Defence
Guido Crosetto was sworn in as Minister of Defence (Ministro della Difesa) in the Meloni government on 22 October 2022. He is the first Fratelli d'Italia member to hold the defence portfolio and one of the most technically prepared Defence Ministers Italy has had, given his eight years as AIAD president and his sixteen years on parliamentary defence committees. Role overview →
Appointment GovernmentFirst NATO Defence Ministers Meeting
Crosetto attended his first NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels shortly after taking office. He engaged with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and allied counterparts, affirming Italy's continuity of commitment to the alliance and to Ukraine assistance. The meeting addressed the situation in Ukraine, force posture on NATO's eastern flank, and preparation for the Vilnius Summit.
NATO UkraineGCAP Trilateral Declaration
Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan announced the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in December 2022. Crosetto was a key advocate within the Italian government for the programme, which will develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft. The announcement marked Italy's most significant new defence cooperation commitment since the Eurofighter. GCAP detail →
GCAP ProcurementUkraine Assistance Renewals — Multiple Tranches
Parliament authorised successive tranches of military assistance to Ukraine in 2023. Italy provided air defence systems, artillery ammunition and other materiel. Crosetto managed the political balance within the coalition while sustaining Italy's alliance commitments. Full detail →
Ukraine ParliamentNATO Vilnius Summit
Crosetto attended the Vilnius NATO Summit alongside Prime Minister Meloni. Allies agreed to treat 2% as a floor, approved Sweden's accession, and reaffirmed commitment to Ukraine. Italy confirmed its multi-year defence investment plan. Summit detail →
NATO Summit VilniusGIGO Established — GCAP Governance Body
The GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) was established in London in December 2023, providing the intergovernmental framework for managing the trilateral GCAP programme. Italy's participation was confirmed through this institutional step, which locked in the programme's governance architecture.
GCAP UK JapanDefence Investment Plan Confirmed
Italy's multi-year defence investment plan — additional funding over five years — was confirmed in the budget cycle. The plan is designed to show a credible trajectory towards higher NATO-aligned spending while managing Italy's fiscal constraints under revised EU rules. Budget detail →
Budget NATONATO 75th Anniversary Washington Summit
Italy participated in the Washington Summit marking NATO's 75th anniversary. Leaders endorsed the Ukraine Compact and addressed the 2% spending target with individual national plans. Crosetto attended and Italy reaffirmed its commitments. Summit detail →
NATO Summit WashingtonOngoing: Personnel Reform, EUNAVFOR Aspides, Bilateral Diplomacy
Ongoing initiatives include personnel pay and welfare improvements, Italy's contribution to Operation Aspides (Red Sea maritime security), bilateral ministerial meetings with European and transatlantic partners, and the defence industrial strategy update. Press releases →
Ongoing Personnel OperationsKey Documents
Major Documents by Period
Current Period References
- Defence budget laws (legge di bilancio) 2023, 2024, 2025
- Legislative decrees on Ukraine assistance (2022–2024)
- GCAP trilateral agreement (Dec 2022)
- NATO Vilnius Summit communiqué (July 2023)
- NATO Washington Summit declaration (July 2024)
- GIGO establishment agreement (Dec 2023)
Historical References
- Parliamentary records, camera.it (1996–2012)
- Undersecretary appointment gazette notice (2008)
- Defence Committee hearings 1996–2012
- Parliamentary debates on Afghanistan, Kosovo, KFOR
- F-35 procurement debates (2008–2011)
AIAD and Party Period
- FdI founding declaration (December 2012)
- AIAD annual reports (2014–2022)
- Parliamentary hearings as AIAD president
- FdI electoral programmes (2013, 2018, 2022)
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