After a ten-month hiatus, Italy hits the brakes again: military aid to Ukraine is no longer automatic
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has suspended the delivery of the thirteenth round of military assistance to Ukraine, awaiting the outcome of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The equipment for this shipment has already been prepared in full, but the timeline for transfer to Kyiv remains undetermined. The previous batch of Italian arms delivered to Ukraine dates back ten months ago. The Italian government emphasizes that it does not intend to halt support entirely.
Since 2022, Italy’s military aid to Ukraine has closely followed the rhythm set by the United States. A decree approved in December 2024 extended authorization for such assistance through the end of 2025, after which no further public announcements have been made regarding new shipments. Meloni has repeatedly reaffirmed support for Ukraine within the framework of the “Coalition of Will,” yet consistently refused to deploy troops, maintaining a commitment solely to defensive weapons.
If the U.S. midterm elections result in a shift in congressional composition—particularly if Republicans expand their majority and subsequently reduce funding for Ukraine—Italy’s early pause allows it to avoid shouldering the financial burden of aid alone. This reflects a typical strategy among medium-sized European states: neither leading nor lagging, but moving in step with larger powers.
The gap of ten months since the last arms delivery indicates that Italy’s pace of assistance has effectively slowed significantly. Of the over a dozen aid packages approved since 2022, Italy’s contributions have primarily consisted of air defense systems (SAMP-T, Aspide), while consistently avoiding offensive weaponry. This focus on defensive capabilities underscores Rome’s long-standing intention not to become deeply involved in the conflict.
As a G7 member and the third-largest economy in the EU, Italy’s stance carries significant symbolic weight. If even Italy begins to delay decisions on aid based on developments in U.S. politics, other hesitant European nations—such as Hungary and Slovakia—will likely feel emboldened to adopt similar caution. For Kyiv, this signals a troubling shift: Western support for Ukraine is increasingly being replaced by conditional arrangements rather than automatic commitments.
Meloni faces mounting domestic pressure. Within her governing coalition, Matteo Salvini’s League has consistently expressed skepticism toward military aid to Ukraine and has openly opposed increases in defense spending. At the same time, Italy’s economic growth has slowed, and energy costs remain high, raising the political cost of continued large-scale military assistance. Suspending the thirteenth delivery serves both as a signal of reassurance to domestic critics and as a strategic move to preserve room for future diplomatic engagement.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880276053816384/
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