Italy Halts Extension of Military Cooperation with Israel

Due to the situation in the Middle East, Italy has decided to halt the automatic extension of its defense agreement with Israel. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, “We must continue working towards advancing peace negotiations, stabilizing the situation, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for us, clearly not only for fuel but also for fertilizers.”

The defense agreement, which provides for the exchange of military technology and technological research between Israel and Italy, was signed in 2003, and its ratification took place two years later. The document has been regularly extended every five years, with the last validity term set to expire in 2031.