Italy has blocked US warplanes from using an American air base in Sicily.
Guido Crosetto, the Italian defence minister, told the Trump administration that military aircraft could not transit through Sigonella air base on the way to the Middle East.
US bombers were due to land at the base in eastern Sicily but were turned away while en route to the region.
Permission was not granted because Washington had not sought authorisation and Italy’s military leadership was not consulted, as required under treaties governing the use of US military installations in the country.
The decision made by the Italian coalition government may come as a surprise to Washington, as Giorgia Meloni has been widely regarded as one of Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters in Europe.
But the prime minister has been politically weakened after losing a national referendum last week on an overhaul of the justice system.
Ms Meloni knows that the US-Israeli war against Iran is deeply unpopular with most Italians and the decision to deny American warplanes access to the Sicily base may be a way of putting some distance between her and the Trump administration.
The decision by Rome will probably upset the US president. On Monday, the Spanish government closed its airspace to American planes involved in attacks on Iran, with Washington threatening a trade embargo on Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government in response.
Mr Trump later singled out the UK in his criticism of countries suffering from soaring oil prices caused by Iran’s closure of the vital shipping lane, suggesting the UK needed to learn “how to fight”.
He said: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you.
“Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
He added that the UK had to learn “how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you any more, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Mr Trump then turned his attention to France and said the nation had been “very unhelpful” in the Iran war.
Mr Trump posted on Truth Social: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory.
“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”
Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, later refused to say whether the US remained committed to Nato.
“A lot has been laid bare, a lot has been shown to the world what our allies would be willing to do for the USA when we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world,” Mr Hegseth said.
“You don’t have much of an alliance if you don’t have countries.”
Once regarded as one of Mr Trump’s closest allies in Europe, Ms Meloni now risks being seen by Washington in the same light as her European counterparts.
The base in Sicily, officially known as Naval Air Station Sigonella, is well placed for aircraft coming from the US to stop over and refuel as they head towards the Middle East or Asia.
It played an important role in 2011 when the US, Britain and France launched a campaign to depose Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator.
The decision to deny the Americans access to the base was welcomed by opposition politicians in Italy, including Giuseppe Conte, a former prime minister. (The Telegraph)
