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Italy blocks US use of Sicily air base for Middle East war
- elAhmo 6mo agoIt is a war, military operation, or an aggression?
- ceejayoz 6mo ago(Joining Spain and France.)
- sschueller 6mo agoand they can't fly over Switzerland. [1] [1] https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-bars-us-overflights-linked-to-combat-in-iran-war/91099558 https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-bars-us-overflights...
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 6mo agoEdit: I'm wrong! Yoink!
- ceejayoz 6mo agoUh, what? They very much did not.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 6mo agoRetracted. Not sure where I heard that. Likely confused with Sweden
- umpalumpaaa 6mo agothis is not true
- mattrighetti 6mo ago> As these were not logistical flights, they were not covered by the bilateral treaty governing U.S. military bases in Italy which allow for logistical and technical use; that led Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to deny the planes the use of the Sigonella base since permission in this case would need approval from the Italian parliament.
- pmdulaney 6mo agoWhat is a logistical flight?
- ceejayoz 6mo agoCargo, passengers? Versus combat operations.
- thebeardredis 6mo ago[flagged]
- diordiderot 6mo agoThis isn't the place for that
- mr_mitm 6mo agoAnd: > their flight plan was not communicated in advance to the Italian air force general staff, nor had the American aircraft received authorization to land, Sounds like they might have gotten authorization if they had just told them in advance.
- pmdulaney 6mo ago[flagged]
- samrus 6mo agoTrump's stupidity is why italians are suffering from this oil crisis. It makes sense for them to not want to support it in anyway
- ericmay 6mo ago[flagged]
- ceejayoz 6mo ago> If the US had pulled out as Iran demanded and said "not our problem" you'd now have an Iran full-on supporting Russia, providing missiles, drones, and more, control over 20% of the world's oil supply where they can exact tolls, turn Gulf States into vassals (for those who can't get a nuke), and would continue to directly pay, arm, and supply groups throughout the Middle East and elsewhere to destabilize other countries and kill people including in Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, and more. You're describing the current situation. The tolls are new, as a response to the war! They've been supplying Russia with drones for years! They've been funding groups throughout the Middle East for decades!
- ericmay 6mo ago[flagged]
- ceejayoz 6mo ago> They very well may have been planning to do so in the next 5 or so years. Our accelerating that doesn't seem like a big win so far. > They could at a whim, just say "give us X or we close the straight". They've been able to do that for decades. > but maybe Iran shouldn't be doing these things Few disagree. But you're falling for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician%27s_syllogism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician%27s_syllogism.
- deagle50 6mo ago[flagged]
- postsantum 6mo agoJust virtue signaling to show citizens they are not totally occupied (unlike Germany)
- afavour 6mo agoAre you sure it’s not just a government responding to its population? This war is deeply unpopular just about everywhere, it makes sense to anyone who wants to be re elected to avoid any involvement in it. (an aside but I can’t help feeling like describing being anti-war as “virtue signalling” really highlights what a useless term it is. Of course it’s signalling virtue! It’s a good thing!)
- 4ndrewl 6mo agoOr perhaps it's in the context of the current US administration having spent the past year telling Europe to get screwed on trade, military etc?
- neaden 6mo agoEven if you're right that's not virtue signalling, that's not joining in on a war against someone in hopes they won't treat you as a military target. That is just regular diplomacy.
- deagle50 6mo agowe're saying the same thing.
- KaiserPro 6mo ago> This is just virtue signaling to Iran in the hopes their cargo ships don't get targeted, or to mitigate future tolls. I don't think very many leaders think like that. Iran can be bought off with diplomatic ties and thawing of relationships. This is either a decision that will play well to home, or a "fuck off donnie" for bad mouthing them.
- dayyan 6mo ago[flagged]
- michael1999 6mo agoThat is a misleading headline. Italy refused landing to flights outside normal operations without a prior request. We don't know how the Italian government would respond to a request if the US took the time to make one.
- Waterluvian 6mo ago> […]if the US took the time to make one. Is it normal for the Americans to behave this way or is this new procedure?
- atakan_gurkan 6mo agoI really wish that people would distinguish between "Americans" and "the US government" (and between the latter and the Trump regime) more clearly. I am Turkish and when I am associated with the behaviour of the Turkish government (which happens when I am abroad), it is very unpleasant. I lived in the States for 7 years and have many friends there. I am guessing they would similarly find this association unpleasant.
- deleted 6mo ago[deleted]
- Waterluvian 6mo agoIt should feel unpleasant. I don't believe Americans are a victim of an oppressive regime and I don't think they get to abdicate responsibility for their government's actions by asking the world to make that distinction. Because I certainly don't get a choice of who I trade with and who is threatening my country's existence. To put simply: the best peaceful tool I feel that I have to protect my children's future is to maximize the embarassment, shame, and personal disgust of those who the U.S Government represents. Those who have a vote and a voice in their town square. Those who can protest or strike. The goal is to make current levels of domestic inaction intolerable. I'm delighted by the No Kings turnout. That's a good start. If we get to a point where Americans by and large do not believe they have any power over their democracy, and that they're helpless victims of an oppressive government, I think my perspective would change in the same way I don't think Iranians are to be expected to deal with their government. I should be clear because this is a very pointed perspective: I don't dislike Americans. As a Canadian it's inevitable that I am close friends with countless Americans. There's a number of them in my very close family. But I believe they bear responsibility for their government because I believe the U.S. is, for now, still a democracy.
- redwood 6mo agoOn the one hand the US has pushed for this by weakening NATO. On the other hand what's interesting is that the EU's primary defense focus is Ukraine whose primary adversary's primary defense partner is Iran, including creator of the dominant drone that Russia uses to attack Ukraine. So while it makes sense that European countries are doing what they can to avoid being targeted by Iranian retaliation, it's a pretty sad state of affairs for Europe to not be able to do much to defend its interests (in Ukraine or the Gulf). All of this will lead to a newly muscular Europe, presumably. Which is what the US has been pushing for. But the US will have to get used to getting less red carpet treatment in Europe.
- delecti 6mo agoI'm sure Europe would in theory prefer to be unified against Iran (for the reasons you mention, namely Russia), but the way this war was started was just too colossally stupid. It (entirely predictably) jacked up oil prices, so Iran is making more money on their exports, and Russian sanctions are being lifted. The immediate consequences of this war are directly funding our (both the US's and EU's) adversaries. I don't think fear of Iranian (para)military retaliation is much of a factor, but certainly not the main one.
- redwood 6mo agoThere was no way you go to war with Iran without oil prices rising and the straits closing temporarily. So you had a choice: be permanently deterred or take action and bear the pain. Sure Europe would like to avoid that pain for obvious reasons, but it's going to be a long-term gain in the form of a weakened Iran and a strengthened Europe. If you feel Iran and Russia are strengthened by this you're over-focusing on one key thing: oil revenue, when Iran is weakened by countless other things and Russia is weakened having their entire middle eastern strategic allies including the gulf players they've pandered up to now hostile.
- actionfromafar 6mo agoWeakened Iran is not a given outcome. It's a possible outcome. As for Gulf players, the feel suckered by Trump now. The saudis are begging for Trump to finish the job exactly because they are afraid he won't.
- rippeltippel 6mo agoItaly didn't join Spain in this: it's just that using the Sigonella airbase for military purpose requires parliament approval, which was not scheduled on time. Meanwhile, five US military flights took off from the other base of Aviano, Northern Italy. Aviano hosts the 31° Fighter Wing (F-16 jets) and B61-4 nuclear weapons, while Sigonella has Mq-9 Reaper drones and Ep-3 surveillance airplanes. For context, the other main US bases in Italy are: Ghedi (Lombardia region), Camp Darby (Tuscany region), Camp Ederle (Veneto region), the two harbors of Naples and Gaeta, and some other communications infrastructures. By the way, Camp Darby is the largest US weapons and ammunition warehouse in Europe.
- ceejayoz 6mo ago> Meanwhile, five US military flights took off from the other base of Aviano, Northern Italy. This may be permitted under the agreements. I can't find the Italian version, but Spain's agreement (https://es.usembassy.gov/agreement-on-defense-cooperation/ https://es.usembassy.gov/agreement-on-defense-cooperation/) differentiates between aircraft already based in Spain versus ones transiting through. > Aircraft of the United States forces which are deployed in Spain, permanently or on rotation, within the agreed force level, may overfly, enter and exit Spanish air space, and use the bases specified in Annex 2 of this Agreement, with no other requirement than compliance with Spanish air traffic regulations. In order to use other bases, military airdromes and airports, the corresponding authorization shall be requested through the Permanent Committee at least 48 hours in advance. > Aircraft flying logistics missions, operated by or for the United States forces, other than those in paragraph 1, not carrying VIPs, HAZMAT or cargo or passengers that might be controversial to Spain may overfly, enter or exit Spanish airspace and use the bases specified in Annex 2 on quarterly blanket overflight clearances authorized by the Permanent Committee. We'll see what Italy does if asked next time.
- tencentshill 6mo ago[flagged]
- whynotmaybe 6mo agoSad time today when it's not even clear how serious/sarcastic this comment is.
- dismalaf 6mo ago[flagged]
- ceejayoz 6mo agoDoes the US lifting sanctions on Iran mid-war count as simping? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d415g55nno https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d415g55nno I think Europe just wants to be left out of it.
- bigyabai 6mo agoIf Iran is Russia's "#1 defense partner" then the issue is less for western Europeans to sort out and more for Russia to reconcile.
- 0x_rs 6mo agoSo far it's only been the US lifting sanctions and greatly understating the military aid (including but not limited to drones) and intelligence (for targeting US and its allies) provided by Russia to Iran. In addition to all of the above, this war has been a great help to their declining finances.
- nicoburns 6mo agoNot invading a country is "simping" now?
- 0x_rs 6mo agoMore intentionally misleading propaganda. Just like France's supposed ban of its airspace to US aircrafts claimed by Trump which is, needless to say, wrong. Think about what countries benefit from spreading this misinformation through media channels. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/31/france-has-not-banned-all-military-overflights-to-israel-and-the-middle-east_6751992_4.html https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/31/f...
- blitzar 6mo agoUnironically there are currently multiple US military aircraft transitting over France and Italy as I type.
- juliusceasar 6mo ago[flagged]
- CrzyLngPwd 6mo ago[flagged]
- jeremie_strand 6mo ago[dead]