ROME, ITALY — Türkiye and Italy took significant steps to deepen their strategic partnership during the 4th Intergovernmental Summit held in Rome on Tuesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced their intention to enhance defense industry collaboration and set an ambitious new target to elevate their bilateral trade exchange to $40 billion.
At a joint press conference, President Erdoğan highlighted the growing alignment between the two NATO allies, stating, “Relations between us are improving day by day. We share valuable alignment on significant matters.” He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening defense ties with Italy, particularly in the context of advancing new partnerships and projects in the defense sector.
One notable outcome of the summit was the signing of agreements in multiple sectors, including defense, trade, industrial investments, transportation, and space exploration. Among the agreements, a key deal was the preliminary protocol between Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar and Italian defense giant Leonardo to jointly develop unmanned aerial systems (UAS), building on the surge in demand for advanced defense technologies following the conflict in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Meloni expressed confidence in the growing relationship between the two countries, stating, “I believe that we are laying new foundations for the further advancement of the excellent relations between Italy and Türkiye, which could easily be the number one in the Mediterranean.”
In the realm of trade, the two leaders outlined an ambitious new trade target of $40 billion—a significant increase from the $32.2 billion reached in 2024. Italy is Türkiye’s second-largest trading partner in Europe, and both sides expressed optimism that the newly signed agreements would fuel continued economic growth and collaboration.
Erdoğan also expressed his gratitude for Italy’s ongoing support of Türkiye’s EU membership bid, noting that the country has been a consistent advocate throughout the process. He reiterated that Italy’s role in Türkiye’s EU aspirations would remain pivotal moving forward.
Beyond economic and defense matters, Erdoğan and Meloni discussed regional and global issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East, and migration. Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to peace efforts, particularly regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Restoring the ceasefire in Gaza is our top priority,” Erdoğan said, highlighting Türkiye’s role in facilitating peace talks.
On Libya, both leaders agreed to continue working together for a long-term solution to the nation’s ongoing instability. In Syria, Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s focus on reconstruction, strengthening local institutions, and preserving the country’s territorial integrity.
The summit, which was preceded by a ceremonial welcome at the Villa Pamphili residence in Rome, also included discussions on migration, with Türkiye playing a central role in curbing irregular arrivals to Europe. Both countries are also set to jointly host the Euro 2032 football tournament, which is expected to further boost their collaborative efforts in sports and infrastructure.
The summit will be followed by a business forum with representatives from both nations, further solidifying the economic and diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Italy.
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