Middle East is the latest arena of political recalibration for Italy’s right-wing but pragmatic Meloni
The Italian leader has positioned Italy as a geopolitical hinge between competing power centers. The Middle East has just given that strategy a new environment.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has become a master of political recalibration in recent years. Since assuming leadership in 2022, she has transformed her image from a radical outsider to one of Europe's most consequential conservative leaders. Her adaptability is evident in her dealings with different regions, including the Middle East.
Italy has long supported Israel and is one of its strongest political backers in Europe. However, this stance has become increasingly unpopular at home, with a Pew Research Center survey showing that 75% of Italians now have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 66% in 2025. In response, Meloni subtly changed course and suspended the automatic renewal of Italy's defense cooperation agreement with Israel in April 2026.
This move was in response to growing public criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, including an incident where Israeli forces fired warning shots at a marked Italian UN convoy in southern Lebanon.
Meloni's approach to the Middle East is primarily political and reputational management rather than a substantive policy shift. However, it demonstrates her receptiveness to political realities and her efforts to position Italy as a useful diplomatic partner that talks to all sides. Her diplomatic efforts in Lebanon include hosting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss the political and military situation in southern Lebanon, hosting direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations, and working on a replacement for UNIFIL's mandate that is set to end on December 31, 2026.
At the same time, maintaining relationships with opposing sides is a valuable diplomatic asset for Meloni. She must acknowledge concerns over Lebanese and Palestinian suffering while preserving Italy's relationship with Israel and maintaining diplomatic access to competing sides. Italy's growing activity in the region is also driven by economic interests, with the Mediterranean being a strategic economic space involving energy, trade, infrastructure, investment, migration, and security.
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