Meloni invites Erdogan to Italy amid Middle East tensions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) as part of the three-day NATO summit in Washington DC., United States on July 10, 2024. Erdogan and Meloni held a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of a three-day NATO summit, where 32 leaders on Tuesday gathered in Washington DC to mark the military alliance's 75th anniversary. (AA Photo)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended an invitation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to visit Italy in the first half of 2025 for a new session of the Italy-Türkiye Intergovernmental Summit. The invitation came during a phone call in which both leaders emphasized the strength of bilateral relations and the importance of consolidating the growth in trade between their nations.
The Italian government released a statement highlighting the discussions, which included a reaffirmation of Israel’s right to defend itself. However, Meloni underscored the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid for civilian populations impacted by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The two leaders expressed a mutual commitment to advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon.
“With regard to the latter, Meloni underscored the crucial role played by UNIFIL and the need for the safety of this mission to be guaranteed at all times,” the Italian statement noted.
In a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, Erdogan praised Italy’s response to Israel’s actions in the region, emphasizing Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. He urged Meloni to support Ankara’s initiative at the United Nations to halt arms sales to Israel.
“President Erdogan underlined the importance of the international community acting together to stop Israeli aggression and noted that Italy’s support for Türkiye’s initiative at the UN to halt arms sales to Israel would strengthen this effort,” the Turkish statement said.
Erdogan condemned Israel’s military actions against Palestinian territories, including Gaza, and its assaults on Lebanon and UN peacekeepers stationed there. His remarks come amid a significant escalation in hostilities; Israel has launched extensive airstrikes in Lebanon targeting what it claims are Hezbollah positions, following a year of increased cross-border conflict since the onset of its offensive in Gaza.
