Italy rejects NATO chief’s claims of involvement in US strikes on Iran

Rome insists only non-kinetic logistical support was permitted, calling Mark Rutte’s comments completely misleading.

The Italian government has firmly rejected statements by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte implying Italian backing for United States military strikes against Iran, clarifying that only non-kinetic logistical operations were permitted under current bilateral treaties.

The diplomatic row erupted following an interview given by Rutte to Fox News, during which he highlighted widespread aviation operations across Europe linked to US deployments, specifically mentioning the utilisation of American military installations on Italian soil. Rutte claimed that as many as 500 American aircraft departed from bases within Italy to assist with Operation Epic Fury, alongside thousands of other flight missions executed across the continent.

These remarks triggered an immediate and sharp response from Rome, which flatly dismissed any suggestion that Italian forces or facilities participated in active combat operations. The Italian Defence Ministry issued a statement confirming that authorisation was strictly limited to technical and logistical assistance, stressing that no offensive actions were allowed under NATO or bilateral frameworks. The ministry expressed surprise at Rutte’s characterisation, accusing the NATO chief of delivering a highly distorted message by conflating standard transit authorisations with combat engagement, whilst noting that any requests exceeding logistical support had been explicitly turned down.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sought to downplay the severity of the disagreement, describing the situation as a storm in a teacup and suggesting the secretary general’s words had been misconstrued. Tajani maintained that Italy has consistently operated within the boundaries of its constitution and international treaties, adding that the government stands prepared to offer comprehensive transparency to parliament regarding the flight logs. NATO subsequently issued a clarification through its spokesperson, Allison Hart, who stated that Rutte was referring exclusively to routine logistical and technical cooperation rather than active participation in combat missions.