Italy readies its top defense council as a brewing crisis rattles the region

In a move that signals calm amid a tense moment, President Sergio Mattarella has summoned the Supreme Defense Council to a Friday gathering at the Quirinale.

The meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:00 local time, and the agenda is plainly serious: the war in Iran and the wider Middle East.

According to a note from the Presidency, the session will include analysis of the international situation and the effects of the ongoing crisis.

  • Agenda
    • The war in Iran and in the Middle East
    • Analysis of the international situation and the effects of the crisis

The talks will be held at the Quirinale in Rome under normal security protocols, as Europe watches developments with growing concern.

No fireworks are expected, just a routine but crisp briefing with an eye on the larger strategic picture for Europe.

Note: The details come from an official presidential communiqué and contemporary coverage on March 9, 2026.