Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that her government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel.
The agreement was ratified by Italy in 2005. It covers the exchange of military equipment and technological research.
The pact was designed to be automatically renewed every five years, and the renewal was scheduled for this month.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded on social media, describing the agreement as a memorandum of understanding that never contained any real substance. He said Israel’s security will not be harmed.
The Iran conflict is believed to be behind Italy’s decision.
Meloni has expressed her intention not to be involved in the US-Israeli military operation against Iran. Last month, Italian authorities reportedly denied permission for US military aircraft to use an air base in Italy.
On Monday, Meloni criticized US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Pope Leo XIV as “unacceptable.” Trump called the pontiff “Weak on Nuclear Weapons.”
Trump spoke to an Italian news outlet about Meloni in a telephone interview on Tuesday saying, “She’s the one who’s unacceptable because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon.” He added, “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.”