Italy suspends automatic renewal of defense agreement with Israel

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Italy will suspend the automatic renewal of its defense cooperation agreement with Israel, citing the current regional situation. The pact governs exchanges of military equipment and joint technology research between Rome and Tel Aviv. Meloni said the government will not let the deal roll over automatically and will reassess bilateral military ties amid heightened Middle East tensions. The suspension pauses planned equipment transfers and joint projects, directly affecting ongoing military collaboration between the two countries.