Rome: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday expressed his belief that Italy, which he said has supported the country's EU membership bid "from the very beginning," will continue to do so. Erdogan's remarks came during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where he attended the 4th Intergovernmental Summit between Trkiye and Italy.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ankara will continue to strengthen cooperation with Italy, which has made significant progress in the defense industry, through new partnerships and projects. As two NATO allied countries and strategic partners, Erdogan stated that the ties between the two nations have been improving since their first intergovernmental summit in 2008.
Erdogan highlighted the alignment between Ankara and Rome on important issues such as security of the Mediterranean, the situation in the Middle East, stability in Europe, and preservation of the transatlantic bond. He praised Meloni's approach to these issues, noting its impact on bilateral harmony.
Economic and trade relations were also discussed, with Erdogan noting that Italy ranks among the top five countries in Trkiye's foreign trade. The commercial ties between the two nations have enabled them to surpass the $30 billion target set at the 2022 summit, and a new bilateral trade volume target of $40 billion has been established.
Erdogan expressed Trkiye's readiness to work with Italy on energy projects in the Mediterranean and to continue cooperation in the fight against irregular migration. He also mentioned discussions on culture, education, sports, and visas, with Cabinet ministers from both countries consulting on these areas.
Regional and global issues were addressed during the meeting, with Erdogan emphasizing Trkiye's commitment to sustainable solutions in Libya and a focus on reconstruction in Syria. Erdogan noted Italy's constructive role in Syria and potential cooperation in the reconstruction process.
Regarding Europe's security, Erdogan and Meloni discussed developments in Ukraine, reiterating strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Trkiye's role in ensuring Black Sea security was also highlighted, with continued contributions toward finding a solution.