Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on 21 June said he could not understand US President Donald Trump's recent 'attitude' toward Italy, describing the tensions as difficult to reconcile given what he characterised as Rome's strong record of allied commitment. His remarks came amid a publicly reported feud between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over Italy's stance on the Strait of Hormuz.

What Crosetto Said

Speaking on the 'Caffe della domenica' programme on Radio 24, Crosetto was direct: 'Our bond with the United States does not depend on governments, on Prime Ministers; it is deep and very solid. I don't understand Trump's attitude these days also because it seemed to me from what I had seen on television that there were no problems in relations with Italy.'

The minister added that his own bilateral contacts had remained unaffected. 'My relations with the United States, even in these hours, are always absolutely normal and have not changed… they have not altered, including those with the American ambassador in Italy, with whom relations are excellent and who I think is also in great difficulty these days,' he said.

Italy's Defence Posture and the Strait of Hormuz

Trump, in statements made over the preceding 48 hours, criticised Italy — and NATO broadly — for insufficient support for US actions related to the Strait of Hormuz. Crosetto pushed back, arguing that Italy had outperformed other European allies on treaty obligations, particularly on base access.

'Compared to other European nations, we have done much more, even just in the use of bases: where we have fully respected the treaties, other nations have decided not to respect them and have denied their use. It's a difficult attitude to understand, which I regret because it harms the deep relations between the two nations,' Crosetto said.

On Italy's military readiness, the minister confirmed that Italian vessels are already positioned in Djibouti. 'The ships are already in Djibouti, the minehunters, ready to intervene if there is parliamentary authorisation and if the conditions we have requested for intervention are met,' he said, clarifying that the mission is framed as humanitarian demining rather than combat deployment.

The Broader US-Iran Context

The dispute unfolds against a volatile diplomatic backdrop. The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding and are engaged in direct talks aimed at achieving stable peace and resolving the management of Tehran's nuclear programme. Crosetto acknowledged the complexity: 'Unfortunately, in recent years, we have been accustomed to a series of ups and downs in international relations, even more so in relations between the United States and other countries and Iran. It's not easy, it won't be easy, and this memorandum signed a few days ago is not the end of a path that will still be very long.'

What Happens Next

Italy's potential military contribution to Strait of Hormuz operations remains contingent on parliamentary approval and the fulfilment of conditions Rome has set for intervention. Crosetto's public remarks signal that while Rome is prepared militarily, it is seeking political clarity before committing forces. The diplomatic friction between Washington and Rome is likely to remain a live issue as US-Iran negotiations continue to evolve.