Rome. Italy has refused permission for US military assets to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for an operation linked to the Middle East offensive, an official said on Tuesday.

The refusal was issued a few days ago and concerned US aircraft, including bombers, which were intended to land at the base before continuing toward the Middle East, the official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Under agreements governing US military use of bases in Italy, Rome must be formally consulted and grant approval before operations can proceed.

The request was denied because Italian authorities were not alerted in time, and the US assets included bombers, the official said.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has pledged that decisions involving military actions would require parliamentary approval.

Following these reports, the Italian government said its relationship with the United States is “solid and based on full and loyal cooperation.” 

Meloni's office said in a statement that Italy is acting “in full compliance with existing international agreements and the government’s guidelines expressed in parliament.”

It said each request for military use of Italian bases is examined on a case-by-case basis, its longstanding procedure.

“No critical issues or frictions with international partners have been registered,” it added.

US Questions Its Allies
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the US undertook the war in Iran for the “free world” and questioned the value of the NATO alliance if those countries don’t stand with America.

“The president’s pointing out you don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” Hegseth said at a news conference from the Pentagon. He pointed to a social media post from President Donald Trump about allies and said Iranian missiles don’t reach the US but could hit allies and others.

He also urged Britain and other US allies to step up to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,” Hegseth said Tuesday. “It’s not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”