Italy Announces Suspension of Israel Defense Deal Auto-Renewal

2026-04-14 07:33:09

(MENAFN) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced Tuesday that Rome has halted the automatic renewal of its defense agreement with Israel, citing the severity of the current situation in the region.

"In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel," a news agency reported, quoting Meloni during remarks made to reporters in the northeastern city of Verona.

The Italian leader also called for sustained international diplomatic engagement to advance peace talks, stressing the need to stabilize conditions in Iran and restore access through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global energy supplies.

Meloni additionally sounded a note of caution regarding European dependence on Russian gas, urging measured deliberation on the matter without elaborating further.

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