Italy contradicts NATO’s Rutte on US warplanes

The Italian Defense Ministry has rejected NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks praising its alleged contribution to the US war against Iran.

In an interview with Fox News, the NATO chief hailed what he described as “massive” European support for the American-Israeli attempt to topple the government in Tehran.

Rutte claimed that Italy alone accounted for 500 of the 4,000 to 5,000 US military sorties launched from European bases in support of Operation Epic Fury.

The Italian military said on Wednesday that its role was limited to “technical and logistical, non-kinetic activities,” and was therefore fully in line with the Italian Constitution and the parliament-approved conditions governing US use of military bases in the country.

“It is surprising that the NATO Secretary General, who had nothing to do with Operation Epic Fury, offers a reconstruction that conveys a completely misleading message by confusing the types of authorized flights,” the statement said.

Rutte’s interview appeared to preempt criticism of European members of the US-led military bloc, which President Donald Trump repeated during a White House meeting with the NATO chief on Wednesday. Trump listed Italy among the countries he said he was “disappointed” with over what he described as a lack of loyalty.

The secretary-general argued that European reluctance to follow Washington’s lead amounted only to a few “isolated cases.” Rutte has repeatedly lavished praise on Trump, even referring to the American leader as “daddy” during a joint press conference last year.

Rome’s public correction followed a spat between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who objected to the US president’s claim that she had “begged” him for a joint photo opportunity during a recent G7 summit in France. Meloni said that being friendly with Trump brought her no political benefit and that her approval at home depended solely on her “ability to defend Italy’s national interests.”

This week, the US Senate passed a directive by a 50-48 vote calling on Trump to withdraw American troops from the conflict with Iran. The measure had already been approved by the House earlier this month, but is widely seen as symbolic, as the president can veto the effort to restrict his authority.

Congress is constitutionally required to authorize any war, but it has not done so directly since World War II. Instead, lawmakers have typically issued broad Authorizations for Use of Military Force, giving the executive branch wide latitude to conduct military operations.