Italy has denied U.S. military aircraft permission to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before flights to the Middle East, in the latest sign of growing friction between Washington and European allies over the Iran conflict.

Italy has a longstanding agreement with the U.S. allowing regular military flights at Sigonella, while any use of the base not covered by the pact must be approved by the Italian parliament. According to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, the planes were denied landing rights, because the flight plan was not submitted in advance to the Italian air force general staff.

In a statement Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office did not deny the incident but stressed it does not signal a conflict with Washington.

“Each request is carefully examined, case by case, as has always been the case in the past,” the statement said. “There have been no critical issues or friction with international partners. Relations with the United States, in particular, are solid and based on full and loyal cooperation.”

Italy is the latest European country reported to have restricted certain U.S. military operations tied to the Iran conflict. Spain had earlier denied use of its bases to U.S. jets heading to Iran. On Monday, the country went further, closing its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran war.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said France had blocked planes carrying U.S. military supplies to Israel, calling the country “very unhelpful.” The office of French President Emmanuel Macron however said it was “surprised” by Trump’s statement, noting Paris “has not changed its position since day one” of the war.

President Trump: 🇫🇷🇺🇸 France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the “Butcher of Iran,” who has been successfully eliminated!

The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! pic.twitter.com/DNYwFMAv8m

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 31, 2026

In another post on Truth Social, Trump urged all countries not helping the U.S. in the war against Iran to get their own oil. 

He mentioned the United Kingdom, even though the British government earlier this month authorized the U.S. to use military bases in the U.K. to strike Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 

BREAKING: 🇺🇸 President Trump to countries hit by jet fuel shortages from the Strait of Hormuz:
“Go Get Your Own OIL.” pic.twitter.com/YRh3OQhbH6

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 31, 2026

He added that the countries not supporting the U.S. war with Iran should “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just take it.”

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump further said. 

War Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the sentiment, saying some countries “ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway.”

“Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well,” Hegseth added.