Italian defence minister defends Gulf troop deployment amid parliamentary criticism

Defence minister Guido Crosetto said Italy’s deployment of roughly 400 air force staff to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain was fully disclosed to parliament, rejecting opposition claims of missing authorisation.

Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto dismissed criticism from centre-left Democratic Party members who alleged the government failed to obtain parliamentary authorisation for a Gulf deployment. Crosetto insisted that the mission’s legal and operational basis was posted publicly on the defence ministry’s website, allowing anyone to verify the information. Since March, about 400 Italian air force personnel have been stationed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, operating four Eurofighter jets, air-defence radars and a counter-drone system.

A newspaper report suggested the presence could be as high as 700 troops, a number not reflected in official statements. The deployment follows Iranian attacks on Gulf allies after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Rome to back regional partners. While the ministry listed several assets, it omitted any reference to a Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defence system, which has been reported elsewhere. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has highlighted its commitment to Gulf security amid the escalating regional tension.