No, the Italian mission in Saudi Arabia does not amount to taking part in the war

The presence of 400 Italian military personnel in Saudi Arabia, deployed in March to help ensure security in the Red Sea, is today being criticised by the opposition – the PD has called for ‘urgent clarification’ – amid fears that it may imply involvement in US military operations against Iran. But this is not a new mission. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto points out that on 5 March, Parliament had authorised the deployment of air defence and anti-missile systems in the Gulf region and that in July, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies committees extended the missions to include Saudi Arabia. The government has reported to Parliament on several occasions, and senior military officials have given evidence before Parliament. To claim today that Parliament was kept in the dark is to ignore the proceedings and votes that have already taken place.

Defending freedom of navigation in the straits means upholding a principle of international law and a clear national interest. Donald Trump’s mistakes may have undermined these objectives, but they do not make them any less valid. Italy has an interest in contributing to the shield built by Sunni Arab countries against the Iranian threat: an anti-Tehran axis on which the stability of the region, the security of trade routes and European energy supplies depend. This does not mean entering the war, but helping allied countries to defend themselves against missiles, drones and attacks. Prudence and caution are required. But these are not grounds for denouncing a non-existent Italian participation in the war or for portraying as an omission what has been authorised. On matters of national security, Crosetto is right: the debate should focus on the substance of the issue, conducted with seriousness and composure. Support is also needed for the Italian armed forces, who are operating in a difficult environment. The fact that Italy is not at war and does not wish to enter into one does not mean it must forgo defending its own interests. Solidarity with the armed forces should be a shared national value, untainted by propaganda.