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The Naval Air Station at Sigonella is located near Catania where Mount Etna rises in the distance. Pictured is Captain Daniel Martins, U.S. commanding officer at
Sigonella and Italy’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano.
There they go again.
Same airbase.
Same location of turmoil—the Middle East.
Same refusal on the part of Italy to assist the United States to fight the enemy.
As reported in Corriere della Sera, the Italian government—through its defense ministry—has denied the United States permission to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for a series of missions in America’s war with Iran.
The Naval Air Station at Sigonella is located near Catania where Mount Etna rises in the distance. Pictured is Captain Daniel Martins, U.S. commanding officer at
Sigonella and Italy’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano.
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Different Players, Same Outcome
The decision by Italy is reminiscent of when the Italian government stopped the U.S. military from arresting Abu Abbas—the terrorist responsible for murdering Leon Klinghoffer, an American citizen, aboard the Achille Lauro, in 1985.
Back then, Bettino Craxi, the socialist, convicted of corruption and subsequently exiled to Tunisia, was prime minister of Italy. Today, we have the firebrand Giorgia Meloni, a conservative, as Italy’s head of state. Yet, the decision is no different than it was some 40 years ago.
Italy's prime minister Bettino Craxi refused American military action in Sigonella in 1985 when President Ronald Reagan orderd the
capture of terrorists who killed Leon Klinghoffer
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Not in the Loop
Italy’s decision was not only deliberate, but sensitive enough to be kept under wraps for several days. Corriere della Sera seems the only news outlet to know about it.
Italian authorities were not informed in advance of the nature of the U.S. operations on Sigonella.
Stung by the exclusion, the Italian military raised alarms in Rome.
Sigonella, a strategic NATO installation on the island of Sicily, has long served as a critical hub for American and allied operations in the Mediterranean. Italy gets the last say as to what can land and take off at Sigonella, according to a treaty with the United States.
What initially appeared to be routine logistical flights to and fro Sigonella turned out to be something more complex and outside the automatic permissions granted under existing treaties.
Pictured are some of the American aircraft at Sigonella: RQ4 Global Hawk unmanned
aerial vehicle, P-3 Orion, and P-8 Poseidon reconaissance aircraft
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War by Red Tape
Italy’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, was informed by the U.S. Navy and Air Force command of the planned movements, triggering internal checks. As more details emerged, the situation escalated quickly. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, already on record advocating for stricter parliamentary oversight of military operations that fall beyond treaty frameworks, is said to have intervened directly. Without proper authorization, the aircraft could not be permitted to land.
Further complicating matters, the flights in question were reportedly subject to operational caveats—meaning they could only land at Sigonella in the event of an emergency. In practical terms, this amounted to a quiet but firm refusal.
While Italy remains a committed NATO ally, the episode underscores a growing insistence in Rome on transparency and adherence to agreed protocols, particularly when military operations extend beyond routine cooperation.
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Back to the 80s
In October 1985, Sigonella was the stage for a dramatic confrontation between Italian and American forces following the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. Then-Prime Minister Bettino Craxi refused U.S. demands to take custody of the perpetrators, ordering Italian troops to surround American forces on the tarmac. The standoff ended with Italy asserting its jurisdiction—a defining moment of national sovereignty in the postwar era.
Today’s dispute is far less theatrical, but no less telling.
Rome is sending a message that even among close allies, cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect, clear communication, and adherence to established agreements.
The question begs: How willing is Italy to help the United States win a war against Iran?
ABOUT SIGONELLA
Location:
Naval Air Station Sigonella sits near Catania, Sicily—one of the most strategically vital military hubs in the Mediterranean.
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WHO CONTROLS THE BASE?
Sigonella is often described as a U.S. base, but it is in Italian territory under Italian sovereignty.
• The Italian Air Force holds primary jurisdiction
• The base commander is Italian
• U.S. forces operate as guests under NATO and bilateral agreements
The United States does not own Sigonella—and cannot use it freely without Italian approval.
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U.S. PRESENCE
• 4,000–5,000 American personnel stationed at the base
• Includes Navy, Air Force, civilians, and contractors
• With families, the total American community reaches 7,000–8,500
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AIRCRAFT AT SIGONELLA
Sigonella is not a fighter jet base—it is a surveillance, intelligence, and logistics powerhouse.
Surveillance & Patrol
• P-8 Poseidon – maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare
• P-3 Orion – legacy surveillance aircraft
• Intelligence-gathering platforms monitoring the Mediterranean and beyond
Drones (Key Assets)
• MQ-9 Reaper – surveillance and strike capability
• RQ-4 Global Hawk – high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance
Transport & Support
• C-130 Hercules – tactical airlift
• C-17 Globemaster III – heavy transport (rotational)
• Refueling and logistics aircraft
Special Missions
• NATO and U.S. intelligence aircraft
• Electronic surveillance platforms
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LIMITS ON U.S. POWER
Despite its large footprint, U.S. operations are restricted:
• Missions must comply with existing agreements
• Certain flights require explicit Italian authorization
• Italy can deny access or restrict landings
Editor’s Note: The web site for the U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella is https://cnreurafcent.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Sigonella/
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