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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Rome on Tuesday for talks with Italian President Giorgia Meloni, as the two Mediterranean countries seek to increase trade and cooperation.
Meloni and Erdogan will discuss the war in Ukraine and the "situation in the Middle East" ahead of a summit where government ministers are expected to sign a number of agreements, including those on energy and defense, according to an Italian government source.
"The aim is to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership between the two nations and boost economic and trade relations, which have grown significantly in recent years ," the source said.
The summit comes at a time when Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted the European Union, of which Italy is a part, to seek deeper security ties with Turkey, a NATO ally and long-time candidate to join the 27-nation bloc.
With arms industry orders increasing significantly in response to the conflict, in March, Italian defense firm Leonardo and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar agreed to jointly develop unmanned aerial systems.
Migration, a dear topic for Italy's far-right prime minister, is also at the top of the agenda, the source said.
Ankara has in recent years played a key role in helping to stop irregular arrivals to Europe, receiving billions from Brussels in return.
The delegations will also work to increase cooperation in transport, infrastructure, space and sports, with Italy and Turkey due to jointly host the Euro 2032 football tournament, the source said.
Italy is Turkey's second largest trading partner in Europe. According to Rome, bilateral trade reached $32.2 billion in 2024.
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