Italy Delays Ukraine Aid Package With Aster 30 Missiles Amid Coalition Rift

Italy has reportedly delayed approval of its 13th military aid package for Ukraine, which is expected to include Aster 30 missiles for SAMP/T air defense systems, La Repubblica reported Tuesday. The package is ready but frozen amid disputes inside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition, the newspaper said.

According to the report, approval has already slipped from July to September and then past the League party's congress. It could now be pushed beyond the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections. The last package was approved in December 2025.

Signatures Still Missing

The decree needs signatures from Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti. Giorgetti is reportedly hesitant because of opposition from League leader Matteo Salvini. Crosetto reportedly said a political obstacle remains.

Salvini was re-elected League leader on Oct. 26. He said he would seek to halt military and economic support for Kyiv.

Rome Says Package Is Ready

On Monday, Tajani said the next military aid package was "already ready" and that Italy would send it to Kyiv "as soon as possible," ANSA reported. The wording leaves open when the decree will actually be signed.

On Wednesday, Meloni's cabinet extended the state of emergency that enables Italian aid to Ukraine by 12 months, Il Sole 24 Ore reported. Italy has also recently turned to Kyiv's wartime experience, hiring former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov as a defense innovation adviser.

Why Aster 30 Matters

The Aster 30 is the interceptor fired by the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, which Ukraine uses to defend against Russian air attacks. Interceptor supplies are under strain across the West, with the U.S. Army recently awarding Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to rebuild Patriot stockpiles.