Mark Rutte’s comments on U.S. aircraft departures from Italy trigger a political dispute over the country’s role in the war against Iran
Italy has rejected suggestions that it allowed its territory to be used for direct combat operations against Iran, after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said hundreds of U.S. aircraft had departed from American bases in Italy in support of the U.S.-Israel military campaign known as “Epic Fury.”
Speaking in a television interview, Rutte cited Italy as an example of European support for Washington, saying that 500 American planes had taken off from U.S. bases in the country. He also said thousands of aircraft had flown toward Iran from bases across Europe, remarks that immediately intensified scrutiny of Italy’s role in the conflict.
The comments placed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government under fresh pressure at home, where the use of Italian territory for foreign military operations remains politically sensitive. Italian officials have repeatedly insisted that Rome did not authorize Italian soil to be used for direct strikes against Iran.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto responded by saying Italy had acted in accordance with its constitution, international treaties and agreements governing allied bases on Italian territory. According to the government, the authorizations granted to the United States covered only technical and logistical support, not combat missions.
The distinction is central to the political dispute. Italy hosts a large U.S. military presence, including key air and naval facilities, but the use of those bases for offensive operations is subject to legal and political limits. Any perception that the government allowed direct participation in the Iran war could expose Meloni to criticism from opposition parties and raise questions in parliament.
Rutte’s remarks also risk complicating Italy’s position inside NATO. While the alliance has emphasized allied cooperation and burden-sharing, Rome is seeking to avoid the impression that it has been drawn directly into a war that remains controversial across parts of Europe.
Opposition figures have demanded clarification from the government, arguing that Italians have a right to know whether national territory was used to support military action. The dispute has revived a broader debate over sovereignty, alliance obligations and the limits of U.S. military activity from European soil.
NATO later sought to soften the impact of Rutte’s comments, presenting them as a reference to allies fulfilling existing agreements rather than a statement about direct Italian involvement in combat operations. But the controversy has already exposed the political risks facing European governments that host American forces while trying to manage domestic opposition to the Iran war.
For Meloni, the episode is particularly delicate. Her government has sought to maintain close ties with Washington while also insisting that Italy’s participation in foreign military operations remains bound by law and parliamentary oversight. Rutte’s statement has now forced Rome to defend that position more publicly.
The controversy is unlikely to end with the latest clarification. As the Iran conflict continues to test NATO unity and European public opinion, the question of how far allied infrastructure can be used in U.S.-led operations is becoming one of the most sensitive issues inside the alliance.
