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"We will continue to strengthen our defense industry cooperation with Italy"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

29.04.2025

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Meloni of the Council of Ministers of Italy, President Erdoğan said: "We will continue to strengthen our defense industry cooperation, which has covered significant distance, with Italy through new partnerships and projects."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Giorgia Meloni of the Council of Ministers of Italy held a joint press conference following the 4th Türkiye-Italy Intergovernmental Summit in Rome.

Stating that since the first summit in 2008, the relations between Türkiye and Italy, as the two NATO allies and strategic partners, have improved each passing day, President Erdoğan said: "We have a valuable harmony between ourselves in such important matters as the security of the Mediterranean, the situation in the Middle East, Europe's stability and the preservation of the transatlantic tie. I think that Ms Meloni's bold and determined approach towards many issues has an important effect on this as well as our historical intensive relations with Italy. We have agreed on seizing upon new areas of cooperation with Italy through today's talks and the signed documents."

"WE HAVE SET OUR NEW TRADE VOLUME AS $40 BILLION"

Drawing attention to the positive course of mutual investments, President Erdoğan stressed that over 1,500 Italian firms have made nearly $5-billion worth of investments in Türkiye, and added: "Turkish firms have significantly contributed to the two countries' spirit of partnership, making important investments in Italy in such areas as defense industry, aviation, white goods and glass production in recent years. In light of these developments, we have set our new trade volume as 40 billion dollars during today's summit. I believe that we will achieve that goal soon. As we continue our consultations here our business people will come together at the Business Forum which I will be attending presently with Ms Meloni. I believe that the Forum will lay the groundwork for increasing of mutual trade and investments. We will follow up the decisions we have taken today during the third term meeting of the Türkiye-Italy Joint Economic and Trade Committee. We will continue to strengthen our defense industry cooperation, which has covered significant distance, with Italy through new partnerships and projects."

"TÜRKİYE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLUTION-ORIENTED EFFORTS"

Pointing out that the global and regional developments lead two strong allies like Türkiye and Italy to closer cooperation, President Erdoğan noted: "I believe that Italy, which knows well our country's contributions to the stability and security of Europe and the Mediterranean, and which, in this sense, has never refrained to support our membership process to the European Union since the very beginning, will maintain its stance. We have addressed the latest developments in Ukraine with Ms Meloni within the framework of Europe's security. We have reiterated our strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Türkiye, as a primary actor in the establishment of the security of the Black Sea, will continue to contribute to solution-oriented efforts."

Further stating that Gaza, where Israel's inhumane actions take place, has been one of the important items on their agenda, President Erdoğan went on to say: "The immediate restoration of ceasefire in Gaza, where even humanitarian aid has not been allowed for two months, is our priority. We will continue to work together on long-term and sustainable solutions for the preservation of Libya's stability and prosperity. We are now focused on the reconstruction of Syria, empowerment of its institutions and the protection of its territorial integrity. To that end, we have addressed the constructive role Italy has been playing in Syria, and the Türkiye-Italy partnership in especially the reconstruction process. We have agreed on maintaining our dialogues on this issue."