BRUSSELS — Italy has refused permission for U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before flying to the Middle East, an Italian government official confirmed on Tuesday.
Some U.S. bombers had planned to land in Sigonella last week before flying onward, but their flight plan was not communicated in advance to the Italian air force general staff, nor had the American aircraft received authorization to land, according to Corriere della Sera.
As these were not logistical flights, they were not covered by the bilateral treaty governing U.S. military bases in Italy which allow for logistical and technical use; that led Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to deny the planes the use of the Sigonella base since permission in this case would need approval from the Italian parliament.
However, Crosetto insisted it was “simply false” that Italy had blocked all access to the bases, saying that their use by the U.S. is regulated by a 1954 treaty, and that both sides are well aware of its provisions.
Crossetto in a message on X stressed that “international agreements clearly regulate and distinguish what requires specific government authorization” and parliamentary approval, and what is considered “technically authorized because it is included in the agreements.”
An Italian government official confirmed the report that the American planes flying to the Middle East were denied landing rights, stressing that the bases were not closed to the U.S., but saying that authorizations are decided on individual merits.
In a note from the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a close ally of Donald Trump, Rome didn’t deny the episode but stressed that it doesn’t mean a conflict with Washington.
“Each request is carefully examined, case by case, as has always been the case in the past,” the statement said. “There have been no critical issues or friction with international partners. Relations with the United States, in particular, are solid and based on full and loyal cooperation.”
Hannah Roberts contributed to this report from Rome.
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