Italy Suspends Defense Pact With Israel as Hormuz Tensions Rise
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has halted the automatic renewal of her country’s defense cooperation agreement with Israel. The bilateral pact, in place since 2005, covered equipment exchanges, joint research, and industrial partnerships. Meloni cited domestic legal challenges and civil society pressure over arms exports, along with the expanded Middle East conflict involving Iran and Lebanon. She described the move as part of broader peace efforts in a region “within a step of the point of no return.” The prime minister also urged an urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the naval blockade is hindering not just fuel shipments but critical fertilizer supplies that support agriculture. Italy is working with a UK-led coalition, though naval deployment awaits a formal UN mandate. In Verona, Meloni additionally condemned recent attacks on the Pope, calling them unacceptable and signaling a firmer diplomatic tone toward global partners.
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