Turkey's Erdogan to meet Meloni in Italy as ties deepen: What to know
The Turkish president’s visit follows a landmark deal between a leading Turkish drone maker and Italy’s defense giant Leonardo for joint production.
ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Italy on Tuesday, seeking to cement fast-growing defense and economic ties with Rome at a time of shifting alliances within NATO and the European Union.
Erdogan is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome for Turkey and Italy's fourth intergovernmental summit, the Turkish president said Monday. Established in 2018, the summit serves as a platform to strengthen political, economic and security cooperation between the two NATO allies.
Alongside official talks, Erdogan and Meloni are expected to address a Turkish-Italian business forum aimed at encouraging further private sector partnerships, particularly in technology, energy and defense industries.
The visit was originally scheduled for April 17, but was postponed due to Meloni’s visit to the White House following US President Donald Trump’s blanket tariff hikes.
