FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe NATO chief's statements have sparked immediate reactions in Italy. The leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S), Giuseppe Conte, accused the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of hiding the extent of Italy's involvement in the operation.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that hundreds of American aircraft have taken off from US military bases in Italy to support the US military operation against Iran, known as "Epic Fury".
In an interview with Fox News, Rutte stressed that European countries have provided significant logistical support for the American mission.
"I completely understand the frustration, but if we take Italy as an example, 500 American planes have been deployed from American bases in Italy to support the operation. It's a very large number," he said.
According to Rutte, between 4,000 and 5,000 flight missions have been carried out across Europe in support of the American operation.
The NATO chief's statements have sparked immediate reactions in Italy. The leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S), Giuseppe Conte, accused the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of hiding the extent of Italy's involvement in the operation.
"Rutte's words confirm what we have always said. Five hundred planes departed from Italy for a war that we consider illegal against Iran," Conte wrote on social media, demanding that Meloni report to Parliament for clarification.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the government's line, emphasizing the importance of transatlantic relations and cooperation with the United States.
"For us, relations with the US are fundamental. We are allies, but not subject to anyone's decisions," Tajani declared during an event in Foggia.
At the same time, the Italian minister confirmed that Italy is ready to contribute to any international mission for maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, pending, however, the reaching of a final agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Rutte's statements come at a time of high tension in the Middle East, as diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation continue in parallel with discussions on maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the role of European allies in US operations.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of a lack of cooperation with the United States on the issue of Iran and of attempting to politically benefit from rapprochement with Washington.
"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni repeatedly asked me to take a picture with her during the G7 meeting. She is doing badly in Italy in terms of her popularity, perhaps because she rejected the United States of America, a country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to preventing Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon," Trump wrote.
The American president further accuses the Italian government of not allowing the use of runways and landing corridors in Italy, creating logistical obstacles for American operations, according to him.
"She did not even allow us to use runways or landing strips in Italy, creating a major logistical obstacle, and this despite the fact that the US contributes hundreds of billions of dollars a year to defend Italy and other NATO allies," Trump continued.
At the end of the post, he claims that following US military actions against Iran, Meloni is trying to regain closeness to Washington for political reasons.
"Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, it wants to be friends with us again to boost its poll numbers. No, thank you!" Trump concludes.
Mor BOLE PRESIDNET I USA,sulmove nje shtet sovran pa u PROVOKU. ASNJE ANTAR I NATO-s NUK U SULMU!! Neni 5 i aleances zbatohet detyrimisht nga te gjithe antaret kur NJE NGA ATO SULMOHET. USA nuk u sulmu nga Irani,bile ato ishin ne BISEDIME per uraniumin e pasuruar. Dole nga marreveshja e PRESIDENTIT EKSELENT BARAK OBAMA,pikerisht per te patur “Alibi”(qe prape asht e pa ligjeshme)per te sulmu nje VEND SOVRAN. EPIC FAYLURE asht ajo qe e MERITOVE.