![\"Italy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782321663.webp\" "\\"Italy")
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Credit: Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS<\/p>\n
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that Italy permitted 500 U.S. military aircraft to depart from American bases in the country during U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, a move that has triggered political backlash in Italy. <\/p>\n
Speaking to\u00a0Fox News\u00a0late Tuesday\u00a0ahead of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump\u00a0in Washington, Rutte also said: \u201cCountry after country, ally after ally \u2026 have made their bases available … That means thousands, between 4,000 and 5,000 \u2026 planes taking off from European bases to support Epic Fury,” News.Az<\/a> reports, citing Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n He added: “Europe is a platform of power projection for the United States.”<\/p>\n Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government had\u00a0previously said\u00a0that only logistical and technical flights covered by the bilateral treaty governing U.S. military bases in Italy would be allowed to use its airbases to fly to the Middle East.<\/p>\n Rutte’s comments prompted a strong rebuke from Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. “Only flights compliant with the Treaties; Rutte’s message is completely fallacious,” the defense ministry said in a statement, reported by\u00a0Il Sole 24 Ore.<\/p>\n Opposition politicians were not convinced. “Meloni deceived the Italians and parliament,” Green MP Angelo Bonelli said,\u00a0Il Sole 24 Ore reported. “Meloni must immediately clarify what happened and report to parliament.”<\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for what he sees as insufficient support for the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, also known as Operation Epic Fury.<\/p>\n Apart from Italy, Rutte<\/a> also singled out Romania for praise, saying Bucharest\u2019s airport had cut commercial traffic because military tanker operations required additional capacity.<\/p>\n Rutte also described the financial contribution of European NATO members as \u201chuge\u201d and \u201cstaggering,\u201d though he did not provide figures.<\/p>\n The U.S. administration is set to\u00a0withdraw some troops from Europe\u00a0as part of a move to give Europeans more responsibility for their own security.<\/p>\n In the same interview, Rutte commented on the war’s outcome and the current state of negotiations. “I think President [Trump], when it comes to Iran, has done exactly what he needed to do. I think also he is right to move to this deal,” he said.<\/p>\n