Italy and the Hormuz Crisis: Diplomacy, Naval Missions, and Food Security

Since the outbreak of the war between Iran and the United States, Italy has worked together with European partners, G7 countries and multilateral organizations to contribute to the end of hostilities, ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and restore stability to the Middle East. In this context, our country has expressed its readiness to participate, once the conflict is over, in an international coalition of a defensive nature to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

As I said in my address to the parliamentary committee in Italy a few hours ago, for our Government the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz represents not only a regional crisis, but a global shock that will affect energy security, industrial competitiveness and international economic relations. This is a significant risk, especially for all countries in the region, but also for an export-oriented country like Italy, whose exports account for around 40% of GDP.

The Strait of Hormuz is, as we know, a strategic hub for world trade: around 20% of the world's oil, a quarter of liquefied natural gas exports and a significant part of the raw materials necessary for international production chains pass through it. The uncertainty of trade routes and the rise in energy prices have already begun to affect European households and the economy. Despite the slowdown in global trade and the impact of tariffs, Italian exports still grew by 3,3% in 2025, confirming how crucial the stability of maritime routes is for the national economy.

What worries us, however, is not only the impact on national industry. Of particular concern are the consequences for the most vulnerable countries in Africa and the wider Mediterranean region. Around 30% of the world's fertilizer exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for the food security of many vulnerable economies. The example of Sudan, which continues to experience one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, is particularly striking. Rising energy and fertilizer prices could reduce agricultural production, fuel inflation and further exacerbate instability, hunger and migration flows to Europe.

For this reason, in early May, together with my Croatian colleague - the current chair of MED9 - we convened a meeting to which we invited thirty countries from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Balkans, as well as the FAO, in order to launch the "Rome Coalition for Food Security and Access to Fertilizers", i.e. a permanent forum for finding immediate and concrete solutions.

Our interpretation is that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is a reflection of a broader conflict, rooted in decades of tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. In this context, we continue to advocate that diplomacy remains the only viable path, and we emphasize that Tehran cannot have nuclear weapons or missile systems that would further destabilize the region.

We must not forget the repression of youth protests in Iran, which the regime violently suppressed. This repression continues today through arrests and executions of opponents. In recent weeks, Tehran has carried out attacks that have hit residential areas, hotels, hospitals and energy infrastructure in several Gulf countries. These attacks continue today, and we have condemned them in the strongest terms, expressing solidarity with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

On the diplomatic front, I have maintained constant contact with my friend, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom I met in Rome in recent days. We agreed on the need to preserve transatlantic ties and work together for international peace and stability. I also reaffirmed my support for the ongoing negotiations in Pakistan, which we consider essential to preserving the diplomatic perspective.

I also continued my dialogue with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, emphasizing the need for Tehran to negotiate in “good faith” and to renew cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, while at the same time restoring positive relations with the Gulf states. In recent weeks, I have also been in China, where I met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to whom I appealed for China to take a more active role in mediating with Tehran.

In parallel, Rome maintains direct communication with regional partners from the Gulf, who are considered essential interlocutors for any lasting diplomatic solution and for the future restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

On the operational front, Italy is ready to make available the experience gained in European naval missions in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. In particular, we consider it necessary to strengthen the European ASPIDES mission, in which only Italy and Greece are currently involved in patrolling the Red Sea to ensure unhindered maritime transport.

In the multilateral mission to be launched in the Strait of Hormuz, Italy could contribute to mine clearance operations and the safety of commercial navigation.

However, we believe that lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without the stability of Lebanon.

The Italian government supports the dialogue between Israel and Beirut mediated by the United States and has expressed its readiness to host direct negotiations between the parties. During my mission to Lebanon last April, I reiterated to President Joseph Aoun Italy's support for a process that would transform the current temporary ceasefire into a genuine peace process.

Italy is also working with Lebanon and the United States on initiatives to strengthen the capacity of Lebanese security forces, particularly in the fight against money laundering and illicit trafficking. Washington and Brussels increasingly see Rome as a key player in strengthening Beirut's statehood, an issue I also raised during a recent meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry with the Lebanese Foreign Minister.

We also remain fully committed to the safety of our military personnel deployed in the UNIFIL mission, in the bilateral MIBIL mission and in the Italian-led Military-Technical Committee for Lebanon. At the same time, we will continue to call for the protection of Christian communities in the country, following the violence by extremist Israeli settlers against villages in southern Lebanon, including those with a Christian majority.

The issue of violence by extremist Israeli settlers was also discussed in Brussels, where European ministers have just approved new, significant sanctions against them. The same session also approved additional sanctions against Hamas terrorists, whose disarmament remains an absolute priority. Italy continues to closely monitor the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, maintaining an active role in humanitarian aid and future reconstruction efforts, with the aim of achieving a two-state solution that can live side by side in peace and security.

In this context, the arrival in Italy, in the last few days, of 72 Palestinian students who have received scholarships at Italian universities should also be viewed: it is an investment that we consider part of the education of the future Palestinian ruling class.

The author is the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy.