The timing of Meloni's announcement is politically charged. The memorandum had already expired and automatically renewed on 13 April 2026, one day before Meloni's announcement. Critics on the Italian left had accused the government of allowing the renewal to happen through inaction, pointing out that the deadline had been known for months.

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-suspends-automatic-renewal-of-defence-agreement-with-israel.html#%3A%7E%3Atext=The+memorandum+had+already+expired%2Chad+been+known+for+months.