Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome on April 29, 2025, to solidify their nations’ partnership through a series of trade and defense agreements. This summit marks a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations, aiming for a new trade target of $40 billion.
Key Takeaways
- New Trade Target: Turkey and Italy aim to increase their trade volume from $30 billion to $40 billion.
- Defense Cooperation: A joint venture between Turkey’s Baykar and Italy’s Leonardo focuses on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Migration Management: Both leaders emphasized cooperation on migration issues, with Turkey’s role in reducing migrant flows to Europe.
- Strategic Alignment: The partnership signals a growing alignment on security, energy, and technological innovation.
Overview of The Summit
The fourth Intergovernmental Summit between Turkey and Italy took place at the historic Villa Doria Pamphilj, where Erdogan and Meloni discussed various sectors, including defense, trade, and migration. The meeting included key ministers and over 500 business representatives, highlighting the importance of economic collaboration.
Trade Agreements and Economic Goals
During the summit, Erdogan and Meloni announced that they had surpassed their previous trade goal of $30 billion, setting a new target of $40 billion. This ambitious goal reflects the growing economic ties between the two nations, with Italy being Turkey’s second-largest commercial partner in Europe.
- Current Trade Volume: $32.2 billion (2024)
- New Target: $40 billion
Meloni noted that over 400 Italian companies operate in Turkey, indicating a robust business environment that fosters mutual growth.
Defense Industry Collaboration
A significant highlight of the summit was the announcement of a joint venture between Baykar, Turkey’s leading drone manufacturer, and Leonardo, an Italian aerospace firm. This collaboration aims to produce unmanned aerial vehicles, tapping into the projected $100 billion European drone defense market over the next decade.
- Joint Venture Focus: Design, development, production, and maintenance of UAVs.
- Strategic Locations: Operations will be based in Italy, including cities like Turin and Rome.
Migration and Regional Stability
Migration management was a critical topic during the discussions. Meloni expressed gratitude to Erdogan for Turkey’s efforts in reducing the number of migrants arriving in Italy, stating that joint measures had led to a significant decrease in migrant flows from Turkey to Europe.
Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to continue cooperation with Italy in combating irregular migration, emphasizing the importance of stability in the Mediterranean region.
Future Prospects
The partnership between Turkey and Italy is poised to expand beyond trade and defense. Both leaders discussed potential cooperation in various sectors, including energy, transport, infrastructure, and even sports, as they prepare to jointly host the 2032 European football championships.
This summit not only strengthens bilateral ties but also positions Turkey as a strategic partner for Italy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the implications of the war in Ukraine.
As both nations look to the future, their collaboration is expected to enhance regional stability and foster economic growth, marking a new chapter in Turkey-Italy relations.
