Italy Prime Minister George Melony said that “ideal relations” had developed between Turkey and Italy, and emphasized that following the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, good foundations were laid down in Rome for their further strengthening.
Meloni said about this at a joint press conference with the Turkish leader after the 4th meeting of the intergovernmental summit, Italy-Türkiye.
“We are very pleased with the results of our work. I am sure that a strong foundation for the development of impeccable relations between our countries are laid down,” she said.
According to the head of the Italian government, Ankara and Rome have close and constructive connections, especially in the Mediterranean region. In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded $ 30 billion, which became a record. Recently, an increase has been observed by more than 28%.
Meloni noted that economic cooperation has high potential and creates value added: “We have reached a target of $ 30 billion for five years earlier than planned. Now we set a new goal – $ 40 billion in the medium term.”
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The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of joint work in the field of defense industry, in particular, noting the successes of the Turkish company Baykar, which produces drones.
“When joint enterprises appear with the base in Italy, this not only strengthens the existing positions, but also opens up new opportunities for the entire European market,” said Melony.
She also pointed out a strategic partnership in the field of energy, especially in the gas sector, as well as the prospects for cooperation in areas such as renewable energy sources, space, high -speed trains, cultural heritage and archeology.
The head of the Italian government emphasized that relations between the two countries go far beyond the economy: “We are allies within the Euro -Atlantic community and in the context of scripts in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Meloni said that the negotiations with President Erdogan discussed in detail geopolitical crises, including Ukraine, Syria, Libya and Gaza sector. She thanked the Turkish leader for the efforts in mediation and support for a sustainable world in these regions.
In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized that thanks to joint measures in the field of migration, the number of illegal migrants arriving from Turkey decreased to zero. According to her, an agreement was reached on a joint struggle against criminal organizations and traders of people.
“We can be proud of what we have already achieved,” concluded George Melony.