With the bombers in the air on their way to the East, the US received a flat refusal from Italy regarding the use of a strategic base
Italian authorities have rejected the United States' request to use the Sigonella base in Sicily, a military installation heavily used by the US Navy and NATO forces, mainly for air operations in the Mediterranean, Corriere della Sera reported on Tuesday.
According to the quoted source, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces, General Luciano Portolano, informed the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, a few nights ago, that several American aircraft were planning to land at Sigonella before leaving for the Middle East, being involved in the war with Iran.
The American bombers did not request authorization or consult with the Italian military, Portolano being informed of the US plans while the aircraft were already in the air.
According to the agreement between the two countries, planes could only land in an emergency.
After conducting initial checks, Portolano was ordered by Crosetto to reject the US request to land because it was determined that the flights were not covered by the treaty between the two countries, which requires there to be prior consultation, according to the peninsula's media.
Initial checks have confirmed that these are not regular or logistical flights and are therefore not included in the US treaty with Italy.
Rome's Defense Minister recently said that any further operations must be approved by Parliament.
“We are committed to subjecting Parliament to a vote on any operation that is not provided for in the treaties and that therefore must be authorized,” Crosetto told the NATO member country's legislative forum.
Moreover, the Italian opposition previously asked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni not to allow the use of American bases in the country in the war with Iran.
Corriere della Sera notes that the decision will inevitably have an impact on relations between Italy and the United States.
Italy is not the first country from which the US has received a refusal regarding the use of bases for the conflict in the Middle East.
Spain has blocked US access to its military bases and its airspace for operations in Iran.
