by InTrieste
Italian President Sergio Mattarella will convene Italy’s Supreme Council of Defense on Friday, 13 March, at the Quirinale Palace to discuss the ongoing war in Iran and the broader conflict in the Middle East, the presidential office announced on Monday.
The meeting will also include “analysis of the international situation and the effects of the ongoing crisis,” according to a statement from the Quirinale. The decision comes as the conflict in the region enters a second week following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
In a television interview on Sunday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attributed the outbreak of the war in Iran to a breakdown in international law, stopping short of either condemning or endorsing the U.S. and Israeli operations. Last week, she pledged air-defense support to Gulf countries affected by Iranian missile strikes but ruled out direct Italian military involvement.
The Supreme Council of Defence
Established in 1950, Italy’s Consiglio supremo di difesa addresses issues related to national security and defence. Provided for by the constitution, it serves as the primary forum for examining major political and technical matters affecting the country’s security.
The council is chaired by the president and includes the prime minister and key government ministers, including those responsible for foreign affairs, interior, economy, defence, and enterprise. The chief of the defence staff is also a member.
Typically meeting twice a year, the council has been convened approximately 20 times under Mattarella’s presidency, which began in 2015. Over the past year, Mattarella has called the council three times: in November to discuss Italy’s 12th aid package for Ukraine and national security strategy; in May to review European rearmament and Italy’s role in NATO and EU initiatives; and in March to address space security and common European defense.
