Supreme Defense Council

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The Supreme Defense Council convened today at the Quirinal Palace, chaired by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The following participated in the meeting: the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani; the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi; the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto; the Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti; the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano.

Also present were the Undersecretary of State at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano; the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ugo Zampetti; the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Supreme Defense Council Affairs and Secretary of the Council, Francesco Saverio Garofani.

The Supreme Defense Council analyzed the crisis scenario triggered by the new ongoing war following the military action of the United States and Israel against Iran, expressing great concern about the severe destabilizing effects this crisis is causing across the entire region of the Middle East and the Mediterranean area.

The Council noted with concern that the crisis of the international order, centered on the UN, with the multiplication of unilateral initiatives, weakens the multilateral system even in the face of common challenges such as the actual security concerns related to the risk of nuclear weapons development by Iran, the security of Israel and its citizens, the condemnation of the Tehran regime, and its inhuman repressions.

In the current context of instability—irresponsibly opened by Russia's aggression against Ukraine—with the progressive ruptures of peaceful international coexistence, the weakening of multilateral institutions, and numerous violations of international law, Italy is committed to seeking and supporting every effort that brings the negotiating and diplomatic path back to the forefront.

The Council, in full respect of Article 11 of the Constitution, expresses strong concern over the proliferation of conflicts, particularly in the Mediterranean area and the Middle East, where our vital strategic interests are at stake. Attacks on civilians, of which children are too often victims, such as in the Minab school massacre, are always unacceptable.
The Council underscores how the extension of the conflict by Iran also risks opening spaces for forms of hybrid warfare and serious initiatives by terrorist organizations.
For all these reasons, Italy does not participate and will not participate in the war, as reaffirmed by the Prime Minister in Parliament.

The Council positively noted that, with its own resolution, Parliament has already expressed its views on requests received from friendly and allied countries for assistance in their defense, as well as on the need for the use of military infrastructure on national territory granted to U.S. forces to occur in accordance with the legal framework defined by current international agreements, which includes, among other things, training and technical-logistical support activities. The Council also noted that any requests exceeding the scope of activities already regulated by the mentioned agreements will be submitted to Parliament.

The Council examined the lines already outlined by the Government in Parliament to address the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Gulf countries, starting with the commitment to secure the thousands of Italian citizens present in the region and the decision to provide support and assistance to the Gulf countries, important strategic partners of Italy, to protect the numerous Italian military personnel present in those areas, based on missions currently underway and already authorized by Parliament.
The Council emphasized the importance of the Government's initiative to work with key European allies, particularly France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to coordinate initiatives on the defense of common interests and on broader security matters. This is also in consideration of the alarm over missiles launched towards Cyprus—an EU territory—and Turkey—an NATO member—intercepted by NATO defenses in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the risks that the conflict in Iran is producing in terms of economic and energy security, both nationally and internationally.

The Council considers Iran's actions to hinder free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as grave.

The Council also closely examined the situation in Lebanon and calls on Israel to refrain from disproportionate reactions to the unacceptable actions of Hezbollah, which have dragged Lebanon into a new dramatic conflict. As always, the highest price is paid by the civilian populations, with numerous victims and hundreds of thousands of citizens evacuated from southern Lebanon and equally from the Shiite areas of Beirut.

The Council finds alarming the ongoing serious violations of UN Resolution 1701 of 2006 and the repeated unacceptable attacks by Israel on the UNIFIL contingent, currently led by Italy.
Even in relation to the UN Security Council's decisions to conclude the UNIFIL mission, it remains essential to guarantee the security of the Blue Line, encouraging the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The Council condemns the aggression against Italian soldiers in Erbil, Iraq.

At the end of the meeting, the Council expressed heartfelt solidarity and gratitude to all the military personnel engaged in various operations in Italy and abroad, particularly to the Italian military in the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon and in the Gulf countries, for their exemplary professionalism in fulfilling their duties.