Crosetto criticises Rutte: comments on NATO and US bases in Italia risk causing international tensions
The Italian Defence Minister has rejected the NATO Secretary-General’s accusations, reaffirming Italia’s compliance with the treaties and highlighting concrete data on the use of bases in the Iranian conflict
Authorisations refused where requests were outside the scope of the agreements
(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - "The ‘off-the-cuff’ remarks by the NATO Secretary-General – which are ill-advised and unnecessary, and amplified by a domestic political approach that is always ready to harm Italia simply to undermine the current government – are causing a storm in a teacup at home, but risk having far more serious consequences on the international stage”. So said the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto said, reiterating his position on the use of US bases on Italian territory in the context of the conflict in Iran, following statements by the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
"The Italian Defence personnel who, on a daily basis, have managed technical relations with the United States regarding the use of the bases have always acted in full and strict compliance with the treaties in force and the regulations governing such activities," explains a statement - “When requests went beyond the scope permitted by the treaties, authorisation was refused. This has already happened and everyone remembers it.”
"The technical data," the minister concludes, "show that the number of flights passing through Italian bases between 28 February and 23 June 2026 is broadly in line with that of previous years and, in several cases, even lower. These are objective, verifiable and documented figures, available for any necessary further analysis relating to the period from 2019 to the present day.”
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