Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, found himself unexpectedly stranded in Dubai following a sudden escalation in the Middle East triggered by the military operation dubbed “Epic Fury.”
The episode has raised questions in Rome about coordination with allies, particularly given the close relationship repeatedly emphasized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with the administration of Donald Trump.
A Private Trip Turns Into a Diplomatic Headache
On Friday afternoon, Crosetto departed Rome on a commercial flight bound for the United Arab Emirates. The trip was private: he intended to join his family, who were vacationing in Dubai, and return with them to Italy on Sunday, also via a regular commercial flight.
However, events quickly overtook the schedule.
Early Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks targeting coastal cities across the Gulf region. As tensions escalated, regional airspace closures followed, grounding flights and leaving Crosetto stuck in Dubai at the height of the crisis.
Rome Caught Off Guard
The situation appeared to catch Italian authorities by surprise. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly learned of the unfolding attack through a phone call from his Israeli counterpart. He also discovered only afterward that Crosetto was in the UAE.
“I didn’t know he was traveling,” Tajani admitted, expressing hope that the defense minister would be able to return before March 7.
According to Italian media reports, even Italy’s external intelligence services may not have been informed of Crosetto’s trip. This has sparked debate in Rome: either there was no intelligence suggesting the trip posed a risk, or the risk was underestimated.
A Swift Return — Alone
The episode concluded Sunday afternoon when Crosetto announced on X that he had returned to Italy. He traveled alone aboard a military aircraft, leaving his family in Dubai.
In a move that appeared designed to preempt criticism, the minister specified that he had personally paid “three times” the standard rate usually applied to private travel on state aircraft.
While the incident ended without further complications, it highlighted the volatility of the region and the delicate position of European allies amid fast-moving geopolitical developments. It also underscored how quickly personal plans can become entangled in global military escalation — even for a country’s defense minister.
For Rome, the episode may prompt deeper reflection on intelligence coordination, communication with allies, and crisis preparedness in an increasingly unstable international landscape.
