Italy Furious as NATO Chief Reveals Secret Role in US-Iran War
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has ignited a political firestorm in Italy by revealing Rome’s ‘secret role’ in the war between the United States and Israel against Iran. Rutte disclosed that the Italian government covertly allowed the US to use its military bases during the conflict, sparking outrage as this contradicts public statements made by Italian officials.
In an interview with Fox News ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Rutte stated that Italy permitted 500 US military aircraft to take off from American bases on its territory during the war. ‘One by one, countries, one by one, allies, provided their bases,’ Rutte said in the interview on Wednesday. ‘That means about 4,000 to 5,000 aircraft took off from European bases to support Epic Fury,’ he said, referring to the US military operation against Iran. ‘If you look at Italy, 500 US aircraft took off from US bases in Italy to support Epic Fury. That is a huge number.’
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had previously claimed that only logistical and technical flights were permitted under bilateral agreements regarding US military bases in Italy. In March, she assured parliament that Italy ‘neither supported nor participated’ in the military operation against Iran.
The disclosure of Rome’s ‘secret role’ has provoked widespread anger across the Italian political spectrum, with opposition parties demanding immediate clarification from the Meloni government. Five Star Movement leader and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte accused the government of deception. Peppe De Cristofaro, leader of the Green and Left Alliance, described the situation as ‘very serious’ and demanded that Meloni, along with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, appear before parliament immediately. Fellow Green and Left Alliance leader Angelo Bonelli claimed Rutte’s statement had exposed ‘Meloni’s lies’.
Defence Minister Crosetto dismissed Rutte’s remarks, insisting that Italy only authorised ‘non-kinetic technical and logistical activities’ in full compliance with the Constitution and international agreements. He accused Rutte of delivering a ‘highly misleading’ message by equating authorised support flights with combat operations.