Italy says US alliance remains “solid” despite Iran, Hormuz tensions
Italy’s alliance with the US remains “solid” despite recent tensions over Rome’s position on Iran and military commitments in the Strait of Hormuz, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
“The alliance is solid and it is with the US, not with Trump, or Obama, or Biden,” Tajani said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera published on Sunday.
His remarks came after US President Donald Trump criticized Italy’s stance on the Iran crisis and suggested the possibility of reducing the US military presence at bases in Italy.
Tajani said Europe and Italy still needed the US, but argued Washington also depended on Europe and Italy for strategic and economic reasons.
“It would benefit no one to weaken a continent like ours and a country like ours, which are strategically and economically essential, including for the security of the entire West,” he said.
Addressing accusations from Washington that Italy had not done enough to support US efforts in the Middle East, Tajani rejected the claims as “false.”
“It’s not true that Italy ‘did nothing,’” he said, highlighting Italy’s participation in NATO and UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in Lebanon.
Tajani added that Italy could deploy minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz to help guarantee freedom of navigation, but stressed that such a move would require “a consolidated truce and a framework of international agreements.”
“We certainly don’t want to go to war, but we will do everything necessary to ensure respect for international maritime law,” he said.
The foreign minister said Italy and the US remained in close contact despite differences over the Iran issue. “We’re allies, and we’ll remain so, but we can’t agree on everything,” he said.
Tajani also argued that Europe should become “stronger, more cohesive, and more independent in terms of defense and foreign policy.”
