The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has decided to halt a defense cooperation agreement with Israel amid rising tensions linked to the ongoing war with Iran.
During a wine industry event in Verona on Tuesday, Meloni spoke to reporters, explaining that the government had assessed the current situation and opted to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel, as reported by Politico.
This defense agreement, established back in 2003, facilitates the exchange of military equipment and technology research between the Italian and Israeli armed forces. It’s designed to renew automatically every five years. Notably, this decision follows an increase in friction between Italy and Israel, particularly after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots at Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon on April 8.
An Italian logistics convoy, moving from Shama to Beirut, was fired upon approximately two kilometers from its starting point, as stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosset. Both Italian and Spanish officials have requested explanations from Israel regarding various incidents involving peacekeepers in Lebanon, including Spain’s earlier detention of UN personnel.
While there were no reported injuries, Italy expressed strong discontent. Meloni condemned the event as “totally unacceptable,” and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has reached out to the Israeli ambassador in Rome multiple times since 2024. Crosset emphasized that Italy expects full respect for the role of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In May 2025, a legal and ethical inquiry led Italy to consider ending its defense pact with Israel. The current conflict involving Iran has led to a shift in Meloni’s stance, despite Italy’s historical support for Israel during the Gaza conflict and its non-recognition of Palestinian statehood.
In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump criticized Meloni’s change in attitude, expressing disappointment over her reluctance to engage in the Iran war. He remarked that he once believed she was courageous but feels differently now.
Meloni has also called out Israel for restricting Catholic clergy from conducting a private Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which she described as a violation of religious freedom.
