According to the French web resource "Zone Militaire", the United Arab Emirates demanded that Italy close its advanced logistics air base operating at the Emirati Al-Minhad air base in Dubai by July 2, 2021, and withdraw the entire contingent of Italian military personnel (about 100 people) from there. The demand has not been officially announced, so as not to create an unnecessary political resonance, but, according to Italian sources, the Italian side has already begun to implement it.
Italian Advanced logistics air Base at Al-Minhad Air Base in Dubai (UAE) (c) www.opex360.com
The Italian Advanced Logistics Air Base (FLAB) was established in the UAE mainly to help support the Italian military contingent in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq and in the Horn of Africa, and since 2002 was located at Al-Batin Airport (in Abu Dhabi), but in 2015 it was moved to Al-Minhad Air Base in Dubai. Two military transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force are constantly on rotation at the base.
The UAE's demand to expel the Italian base from its territory was a reaction to the decision taken in January 2021 by Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio to revoke licenses for the export of unguided aircraft missiles and bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from the Italian company RWM Italia (a subsidiary of the German concern Rheinmetall). Earlier, the supply of these weapons was temporarily suspended by the Italian authorities due to the involvement of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the conflict in Yemen (and the United Arab Emirates-also due to its involvement in the conflict in Libya). At the same time, Luigi di Maio publicly announced the introduction of a de facto ban on the export of these weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying that "we believe that this is our duty, a clear message of peace coming from our country."
It is reported that since the beginning of June, in response, the UAE began to prevent the access of transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force to its airspace, and then completely demanded that the Italians get out of their territory.
