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Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Wednesday that Rome will not renew its five-year defence accord with Israel, citing the "current situation" without elaborating further.
Diplomatic tensions escalate
Relations between Italy and Israel have deteriorated in recent weeks. Last week, Rome summoned Israel's ambassador after Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries.
On Monday, Israel retaliated by summoning Italy's ambassador to protest remarks by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who condemned Israel's "unacceptable attacks" on civilians in Lebanon.
Arms exports and public pressure
Italy ranks as Israel's third-largest arms supplier, though its exports account for just 1.3% of Israel's total arms imports between 2021 and 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). The U.S. and Germany remain Israel's top suppliers.
Several European nations have paused or restricted arms sales to Israel during its military campaign in Gaza, which followed the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. That assault killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 72,330 people have been killed in Israeli military operations, including 757 since a ceasefire began on October 10, 2025.
Public opposition in Italy has grown, with hundreds of thousands participating in protests and strikes demanding a shift in government policy.
Meloni's political calculus
Despite public pressure, Meloni's right-wing coalition has remained one of Israel's staunchest European allies, refusing to recognize Palestinian statehood. However, her government's stance has faced scrutiny since a March referendum on judicial reforms, widely seen as a referendum on her leadership and foreign policy.
With Italy's next general election 18 months away, Meloni has adjusted her rhetoric to distance herself from unpopular associations. She recently criticized U.S. military actions in the Middle East as part of a dangerous trend of interventions "outside the scope of international law."
On Monday, she condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's derogatory remarks about Pope Leo XIV as "unacceptable," later expressing solidarity with the pontiff. Trump responded sharply, telling Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera he was "shocked" by her comments and accused her of disregarding Iran's nuclear threat.
Allies rally behind Meloni
Meloni's allies swiftly defended her. Foreign Minister Tajani stated on X that Italy's alliance with the U.S. is "built on mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty" and that Meloni's remarks on the Pope reflected the views of all Italians.
"The prime minister and the government defend and will always defend only and solely the interests of Italy."
Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto added that alliances do not require "accepting everything in silence" but instead demand the courage to "clearly state what one believes to be right."
Legal and practical implications unclear
Defence ministry officials told the BBC they are still assessing how the government's decision will translate into concrete legal and operational changes in Italy's cooperation with Israel.
