Italy will send air defense support to Gulf countries facing Iranian attacks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Thursday, signaling a wider European effort to protect partners and nationals as the conflict intensifies.
Italy “will send aid to the Gulf countries like other countries in Europe like the UK, France, and Germany,” Meloni said in a statement carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA). The Italian prime minister said that her country’s decision to send aid to Gulf countries was based not only on its relations with the region but also due to “the presence of tens of thousands of Italians in the region and around 2,000 Italian soldiers that need to be protected.”
Meloni also addressed Italy’s position on U.S. operations from Italian soil. She said authorizations are in place for the United States to use its bases in Italy for operations that do not include bombing, adding that any change would require approval from Italy’s government and parliament, QNA reported.
The Iranian attacks in the Gulf region have raised concerns regarding the war spilling over to other areas beyond the main warfronts. This has prompted European countries to strengthen their defenses in the region, all the while keeping a close eye on the safety of their nationals, diplomats, and military forces in the region.
Italy has not specified details on the type of air defense support that it is willing to provide, nor the Gulf countries that will receive support.
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