Italy pauses defence ties with Israel, signals policy shift
Rome, Apr 15 (BNP): Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced the suspension of Italy’s defence treaty with Israel, signalling a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy amid escalating tensions in West Asia. The decision coincided with sharp criticism from Donald Trump over Italy’s refusal to support the United States in its military campaign against Iran.
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni said on Tuesday. The agreement, first approved in 2006, provides for cooperation in military equipment exchange and joint technology research.
The move comes amid growing concern in Italy over recent regional developments, including Israel’s bombing of Lebanon and allegations that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots near Italian UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon. These incidents have contributed to rising public disapproval within Italy.
While Meloni has so far maintained a measured stance on Israel’s military operations in Gaza, domestic pressure has been mounting, with sections of the public opposing continued hostilities and U.S. military actions against Iran. In a related development, Italy last month reportedly denied U.S. aircraft access to its Sigonella airbase in Sicily for stopovers.
Israel sought to downplay the impact of the suspension. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein stated that the arrangement was a long-standing memorandum of understanding without substantive operational content and would not affect Israel’s security.
However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the development as indicative of a broader diplomatic challenge, saying the government was struggling to retain the support of traditional allies.
The developments highlight a shifting geopolitical landscape, with Italy reassessing its strategic positioning amid intensifying regional tensions and increasing domestic political pressure.
