The UAE decided to expel the Italian Air Force from the Al Minhad military base in Dubai, in response to an arms embargo imposed by Rome on Abu Dhabi in January.

The Italian MP and member of the Parliamentary Defense Committee, Matteo Perego de Cremenago, revealed to the newspaper “Defence News” that the UAE had given his country to implement the withdrawal until next July 2.

De Cremenago added that his country’s forces have already begun to withdraw.

An Italian ban on the sale of ammunition and missiles to the UAE and Saudi Arabia was adopted in January due to concerns about the two countries’ military campaign in Yemen.

In turn, the former commander-in-chief of the Italian Air Force, General Leonardo Tricarico, told the newspaper, Defense News, “The last Italian plane left the base on Thursday, leaving only the remains of materials to collect.”

“The expulsion was only part of the UAE’s mistreatment of Italy,” Tricarico added.

He pointed out that the UAE also prevented Italian military aircraft from using its airspace.

The military commander pointed out that relations with the UAE began to deteriorate 15 years ago, “when the Italian company Finmeccanica failed to fulfill its promise on drone sales due to difficulties related to technology rights.”