Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced from Verona, Italy, that her government is officially suspending the automatic renewal of its bilateral defense agreement with Israel. Speaking to reporters at a local event, Meloni cited the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon as the main reasons for halting the long-standing pact. The suspended treaty, which has historically been renewed every five years, governs crucial military training, defense industry cooperation, and technology exchanges between the two allied nations. The diplomatic relationship has been increasingly strained following a recent incident in which Israeli forces allegedly fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon. During her public address, Meloni also fiercely condemned recent critical remarks made by US President Donald Trump targeting Pope Leo XIV, firmly defending the independence of religious leadership.