Finance
Italy Rules Out Sending Ships to Patrol Hormuz Strait Without U.N. Mandate
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 8, 2026
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Italy, via Deputy PM Matteo Salvini, has ruled out sending naval ships to patrol the Strait of Hormuz without a UN mandate amid heightened tensions from the U.S.–Iran conflict. Rome insists only multilateral, UN‑authorized missions are acceptable and has denied any bilateral engagement with Iran.
Italy Declines to Patrol Hormuz Strait Without UN Mandate Amid Energy Crisis
Italy's Position on the Hormuz Strait Patrol and Energy Crisis
By Giselda Vagnoni
Italy's Stance on Military Involvement
ROME, April 8 (Reuters) - Italy will not send any ships to help police the Hormuz Strait area following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran unless it is authorised by the United Nations, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday.
UN Mandate as a Prerequisite
"It is not on the agenda. We have already said that we will not send ships unless there is a United Nations initiative," Salvini, who is also infrastructure minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's conservative government, told reporters.
Impact of the U.S.-Iran Conflict on Energy Supplies
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has triggered an energy crisis for the global economy by trapping large volumes of oil and gas in the Gulf after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to most vessels, hitting Europe and Italy particularly hard.
Calls to Resume Russian Energy Imports
The disruption has led some, including Salvini's far-right League party, to call on Europe to consider resuming energy purchases from Russia, which were cut off in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Salvini's Reconsideration on Russian Energy
However, Salvini backtracked on that position, saying it would not be feasible as long as the war in Ukraine continued.
"I hope that a time will soon come when it will be possible to speak about reconstruction and cooperation, including partnerships and energy, once the conflict with Russia has ended," he told the Foreign Press Association in Italy.
Italy's Relations with NATO and the United States
Denial of U.S. Military Access
Like other NATO allies reluctant to back U.S. President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran, Italy last week denied permission for U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily en route to the Middle East.
Future of NATO Presence in Europe
Salvini dismissed suggestions that mounting disagreements between Washington and European capitals could lead the U.S. to disengage from Europe.
"I don’t believe there is any imminent issue regarding NATO troop withdrawals from Europe," he said.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; writing by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin Jones, Alvise Armellini and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Italy will not deploy ships to the Strait of Hormuz without a United Nations mandate, as emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. (en.lasicilia.it)
- •Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also affirmed that deployment is possible only under UN auspices with global consensus to ensure it’s a peace mission, not a war operation. (en.lasicilia.it)
- •Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed the call for diplomacy, supporting multilateral initiatives under UN leadership to secure navigation and humanitarian corridors, particularly for energy and food supplies. (esteri.it)
References
- Strait of Hormuz, Crosetto slows the winds of war: "No Italian mission without a ceasefire and UN mandate" - La Sicilia
- Tajani at the Hormuz meeting: “UN’s decisive role, ready to support initiatives for a humanitarian corridor and navigation security” – Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy rules out sending ships to patrol Hormuz Strait without U.N. mandate
1Why is Italy refusing to send ships to the Hormuz Strait?
Italy has stated it will only deploy ships to patrol the Hormuz Strait if authorized by a United Nations initiative.
2How has the Iran-U.S. ceasefire affected Europe's energy supply?
The closure of the Hormuz Strait has trapped oil and gas in the Gulf, causing an energy crisis that has impacted Europe, especially Italy.
3What is Italy's position on resuming energy imports from Russia?
While some politicians suggested it, Italy's government said resuming Russian energy imports is not feasible as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
4Did Italy support U.S. military actions in Iran?
Italy denied permission for U.S. military aircraft to use its Sigonella air base for missions related to the Iran conflict.
5Could disagreements between Europe and the U.S. affect NATO operations?
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Salvini dismissed the notion of imminent NATO troop withdrawals from Europe despite disagreements.
