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An interview by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Fox News has caused tensions in the Italian government, prompting immediate reactions from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
According to Italian media, Meloni and Crosetto had an urgent telephone conversation after hearing Rutte's statements regarding Italy's role during the conflict between the US and Iran. The Italian government has become convinced that the statements contained incorrect data and could have a political background.
Italian officials have expressed surprise that NATO, which was not directly involved in operations against Iran, published figures that Rome considers inaccurate. According to Defense Ministry sources, the activities carried out from Italian bases have been around 200 and not 500, as reported by Rutte during the interview.
The Italian government's reaction came through an official statement from the Ministry of Defense, with unusual tones towards the head of the Atlantic Alliance. At Palazzo Chigi, Rutte's statements were described as meaningless and incompatible with the facts known by the Italian authorities.
Another element that has raised suspicions in Rome is the timing of the statements, made shortly before a meeting between Rutte and US President Donald Trump. Suspicions have emerged within the Italian ruling majority that there may have been political influence from Washington behind this move.
The Italian government has reiterated that during the conflict with Iran, only technical and logistical activities were allowed at Italian military bases, while any request for their use in offensive operations was rejected.
Following the contact between Meloni and Rutte, NATO issued a clarification with the aim of easing the controversy, but this does not appear to have been enough to dispel the Italian prime minister's reservations.
Despite the tensions, Meloni participated in the Berlin summit along with key European leaders, on the eve of the NATO meeting that will take place on July 7 in Ankara and where Donald Trump is also expected to attend.
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