Italy Addresses Red Sea Attacks and Critical Minerals Cooperation

Italy is currently dealing with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which have reportedly targeted interests in Saudi Arabia, including a strike on Taif airbase that allegedly damaged an Italian F-2000 Eurofighter aircraft. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy is not at war in the Red Sea but urged the European Union to reinforce its naval mission to protect commercial shipping. Concurrently, the United States and Italy signed an agreement in New York to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals, including establishing a joint working group focused on recycling and recovery.

The Red Sea is a critical strategic waterway through which 40% of Italy's commercial maritime traffic and 60% of its exports to Asia pass. The bilateral agreement between the US and Italy aims to diversify supply chains and protect strategically important industries through shared efforts on resource recovery.