Italy suspends renewal of its defense agreement with Israel.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that her government would “suspend the automatic renewal” of the defense agreement between Italy and Israel. “Given the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” declared Giorgia Meloni, as reported by Italian news agencies Ansa and AGI.

An Italian diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that the agreement had been suspended, stating: “It would have been politically difficult to maintain it.” Ratified in 2006 and tacitly renewed every five years, the defense agreement was coming to an end. It governs cooperation between the two countries in defense industry, military training, research, and information technologies, among other areas.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this suspension would not affect its security. “We have no security agreement with Italy. We have a protocol agreement dating back many years that has never contained substantial provisions. This will not affect Israel’s security,” said Oren Marmorstein.

In addition, US President Donald Trump strongly criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for refusing to involve her country in the war in Iran, stating he was “shocked” and disappointed by her lack of “courage.” “Do the Italians appreciate the fact that your president is not helping us get the oil? Do they like that? I can’t imagine. I’m shocked. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” said the head of state in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The Italian opposition had been requesting for several months that the government suspend this renewal. Tensions between Italy and Israel escalated last week after the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.