Italian Government plans to allow U.S. use of bases for Iran conflict

ROME – Italy’s government was set to seek parliamentary approval on Thursday to allow the United States to use two Italian military bases, deploy a naval vessel to Cyrpus and provide anti-missile assistance to Gulf states caught up in the conflict with Iran, according to parliamentary sources. 

 

 The centre-right majority was tabling a motion asking parliament to authorise the use of the Aviano air base in the north and Sigonella in Sicily for American training and logistical operations, in line with bilateral treaties between Rome and Washington dating to 1951, 1954, and 1995. Under those agreements, logistical use of the bases requires no formal request from Washington; offensive operations do. 

 

 The motion also sought approval to deploy a warship to Cyprus to assist with the defence of the island as a fellow EU member state facing the threat of Iranian missile strikes. 

 

  A third commitment covered the reinforcement of anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems to protect Italian military personnel already deployed in Gulf states including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as partner countries and strategic infrastructure in the region.

 

 Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani were due to address parliament on Thursday ahead of the vote. The resolution had been drafted by their two ministries alongside Palazzo Chigi and was presented on Wednesday evening at the Quirinal Palace, where Crosetto met President Sergio Mattarella ahead of a separate meeting between Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

 

 The motion contained no condemnation of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, referring instead to the "aggravation of tensions" in areas of strategic importance and citing Iran's retaliatory missile strikes against third countries as the trigger for Italy's response.