Even Its ‘Closest Ally’ Italy Halts Renewal of Defense Pact With Israel

[Financial News]

Italy has halted the renewal of its defense agreement with Israel. The move suspends exchanges of military equipment and cooperation on research and development (R&D) in defense technologies.
According to Al Jazeera, Giorgia Meloni said on the 14th (local time), "In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel."
The agreement, concluded with Israel in 2006, was designed to be automatically renewed every five years. It provides a framework for bilateral cooperation in defense industries, military training and education, R&D, and information technology (IT).
Meloni’s right-wing government had been considered Israel’s closest ally in Europe, but the mood has shifted in recent weeks. Her administration has strongly criticized Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
As a result, tensions between the two countries have continued to rise.
The Italian government claims that Israeli forces fired on a convoy carrying Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. There were no casualties, but at least one vehicle was damaged.
In protest over the incident, Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani went further, condemning attacks by Israeli forces on Lebanese civilians as unacceptable. On the 13th, Tajani held talks in Beirut with President Joseph Khalil Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi.
In response, Israel summoned the Italian ambassador to Israel on the 13th.


dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter