Italy suspends automatic renewal of defence agreement with Israel: Meloni

Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of its defence cooperation agreement with Israel, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced while speaking to journalists in Verona on Tuesday (April 14).

According to local media reports, Meloni confirmed the decision, while stressing the need for “all possible efforts” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

The agreement, originally signed in 2003 under then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, established cooperation between the two countries in defence and scientific research. It was formally approved in 2005 and has since been automatically renewed every five years.

The latest move marks a significant policy shift in Italy’s defence engagement with Israel, amid growing international scrutiny of regional tensions.

Meloni did not provide further details on whether the suspension is temporary or subject to renegotiation.