Erdogan meets with Italy's Meloni in Rome for 4th intergovernmental summit

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Rome on Tuesday to attend the fourth intergovernmental summit between Türkiye and Italy, invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

President Erdogan welcomed with official ceremony in Italy pic.twitter.com/utQZqFBdZN

— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) April 29, 2025

The summit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss pressing regional and global matters.

Erdogan meets with Italy's Meloni in Rome for 4th intergovernmental summit — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, April 29, 2025. (AA Photo)

Warm welcome at Villa Doria Pamphili

Upon his arrival in Rome, President Erdogan was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Meloni at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, a residence dating back to the seventh century.

The two leaders greeted each other with a handshake, followed by a ceremonial guard salute. Afterward, Erdogan and Meloni held a private one-on-one meeting, which was closed to the press.

Strengthening bilateral cooperation

The summit, which is being held at the iconic villa, is expected to focus on advancing cooperation between Türkiye and Italy, particularly in areas such as trade, defense, and cultural exchange.

Several agreements aimed at bolstering the legal framework of their relationship are expected to be signed during the summit.

In addition to the summit discussions, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Meloni are scheduled to address the press in a joint statement.

This will follow the signing of agreements between the two countries.

Meetings with Italian leaders and business community

After the summit, President Erdogan is set to visit the Vatican and then meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace.

The day will conclude with the Türkiye-Italy Business Forum at the Parco dei Principi Hotel, which will bring together business leaders from both nations to explore new economic opportunities.

Erdogan is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, and several other key ministers and advisors.

The Turkish delegation will engage in talks with their Italian counterparts, focusing on strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.