ROME (Realist English). Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that she would not renew the defense treaty with Israel, first approved in 2006, covering the exchange of military equipment and joint technological research. The decision was made amid Italy’s public disapproval of recent Israeli bombings in Lebanon and reports that the IDF had fired warning shots at Italian UN peacekeepers in the south of the country.
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” Meloni said on April 14.
The suspension of the defense memorandum, originally signed by Silvio Berlusconi and which entered into force in 2016, is more political than practical. The agreement covered the exchange of military equipment, joint research and development, personnel training, joint exercises, and industrial cooperation, including licensed production and technology sharing. Italy had already halted arms sales to Israel, weapons purchases, and joint training after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Although Italy ranks third in the world for arms exports to Israel, its share of total Israeli arms imports during 2021–2025 was only 1.3%. Thus, Meloni’s decision is primarily a political signal.
Official Israel downplays the move; opposition sounds the alarm
Official Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein was quick to downplay the step: “We have no security agreement with Italy. We have a memorandum of understanding from many years ago that has never contained any substantive content. This will not affect Israel’s security”. However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said that Netanyahu’s government was losing the battle to keep allies onside. “The government has failed to advance Israel’s interests even with people who are supposed to be our friends and natural allies,” he said.
Trump lashes out at Meloni: “She’s no longer the same person.”
Trump, who had previously praised Meloni as a “great leader” and a reliable European ally, subjected her to harsh criticism in an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera on April 14. “I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” the US president said, commenting on Italy’s refusal to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. “She’s no longer the same person,” Trump added. Earlier, Meloni’s government had already refused US military aircraft permission to use the Italian base at Sigonella in Sicily for a stopover. Italian voters also oppose US strikes on Iran.
Solidarity with Pope Leo XIV
Adding to the rupture, Meloni sided with Pope Leo XIV, who criticized US strikes on Iran. Trump had previously called the pontiff “weak” and “terrible on foreign policy.” Meloni said on April 14: “I express my solidarity with Pope Leo. Frankly, I would not feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say”.
Historical context
Rome recognized the Jewish state in 1949, just a few months after its founding, and for decades the two countries were bound by close economic, military and diplomatic partnership. However, since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, and especially after the escalation of the conflict with Iran and Lebanon in 2025–2026, this alliance has cracked.
In 2003, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who called himself “Israel’s most determined, sincere and close friend,” signed a memorandum of understanding on defense and security with Tel Aviv. That document, which entered into force in 2016, provided for the exchange of military equipment, joint research, personnel training, joint exercises and military-industrial cooperation, including licensed production and technology sharing.
In October 2024, Meloni’s government imposed an arms embargo on Israel, suspending the issuance of new export licenses. In May 2025, Rome condemned Israeli forces for firing warning shots at Italian diplomats in Jenin and summoned the Israeli ambassador for an explanation. In September of that year, Israel was excluded from the major TTG Travel Experience tourism fair in Rimini following protests by local authorities.
Although Italy exported €749 million worth of goods to Israel in 2025 and imported €184 million, leaving a positive balance of €565 million for Rome, growing political pressure threatens even this trade.
In September 2025, the European Commission declared that Israel had violated the human rights clause of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, opening the way to possible sanctions. According to polls, 63% of Italians have a negative view of the United States, and Meloni’s association with the unpopular Trump has become a political liability for her. Her attempt to distance herself from him is a forced maneuver ahead of the 2027 elections to regain lost ground.
