The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has asked Italy to withdraw aircraft and personnel from a military base in the Gulf state by Friday, an Italian government source said on Monday, in what appeared to be fallout from Rome halting the sale of missiles to the UAE, Reuters reported.

The source added that negotiations were ongoing to try to resolve the matter.

As part of multinational operations, Italy, a NATO member, has used al Minhad airbase, which hosts aircraft from various nations, for flights to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and the Indian Ocean.

In January, Italy said it halted the sale of thousands of missiles to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, citing Rome’s commitment to restoring peace in Yemen and protecting human rights.

Earlier this month, news agency ANSA cited Italy’s foreign ministry as saying it had summoned the UAE ambassador to Rome after the Gulf state refused access to its air space to a military aircraft carrying 40 journalists to Afghanistan, which Italy’s defense minister was visiting at the time.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s new administration in January temporarily paused some pending arms sales to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for review.

 

Link` https://www.reuters.com/article/emirates-italy-security/uae-sets-deadline-for-italy-to-vacate-airbase-italian-government-source-says-idUSL5N2OA3VC  (reported)