Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday her government has suspended the automatic renewal of a longstanding defense cooperation agreement with Israel, citing escalating tensions tied to the conflict in Lebanon.
The decision followed consultations with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Rome has grown increasingly critical of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, including strikes that have killed hundreds and injured thousands, as well as an incident involving warning shots near Italian troops serving under a United Nations mandate.
The 2003 defense agreement, enacted in 2006 under former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is automatically renewed every five years and covers military cooperation, procurement, training, and equipment transfers.
Diplomatic tensions have also escalated, with Italy summoning Israel’s ambassador over the incident and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later calling in Italy’s ambassador for consultations.
