Giorgia Meloni announced Tuesday that Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of its military cooperation agreement with Israel, citing rising geopolitical tensions.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Verona, Meloni said the government decided to halt the renewal of the defense pact, which includes cooperation on military equipment, defense industries, technology research, and training.
A diplomatic source confirmed the suspension, describing the continuation of the agreement as politically difficult. The deal, originally signed in 2006, is subject to renewal every five years.
The move comes after months of pressure from opposition parties calling for the agreement to be suspended. Tensions escalated last week after Rome accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at an Italian convoy serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in southern Lebanon.
Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the incident, which caused damage to at least one vehicle but resulted in no injuries.
Meanwhile, Antonio Tajani, speaking during a visit to Beirut, condemned what he described as Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon, calling them unacceptable.
He urged renewed dialogue between Lebanon and Israel and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, warning against further regional escalation similar to the conflict in Gaza.
Follow the latest news on Google News
