President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid an official visit to Rome, where he held high-level meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The visit marked the 4th Türkiye–Italy Intergovernmental Summit and resulted in a series of strategic outcomes, most notably the signing of 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and the reaffirmation of strong bilateral cooperation in the economic, defense, industrial, and cultural spheres.
During his meeting with President Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, President Erdoğan emphasized the deep-rooted relations between the two countries and highlighted the significance of strengthening regional and global cooperation. The leaders discussed current international developments, including shared approaches to regional stability, energy security, and migration management. Both Türkiye and Italy underscored their commitment to multilateralism and international law, reiterating the importance of NATO solidarity and dialogue-based diplomacy, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine and broader Mediterranean dynamics.
At the subsequent intergovernmental summit co-chaired by President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Meloni, the two countries laid out a clear vision for expanding their strategic partnership. A total of 11 MoUs were signed, covering a wide range of areas such as trade, industrial investments, defense cooperation, science and technology, space exploration, youth and sports, cultural heritage, social services, and transportation. These agreements reflect the mutual intention to enhance sectoral cooperation through concrete mechanisms and to pursue sustainable growth through innovation and joint ventures.
President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Meloni set an ambitious new trade volume target of USD 40 billion, building on the USD 30 billion target established at the 2022 summit. President Erdoğan highlighted that, over the past 22 years, more than 1,500 Italian companies have invested a total of USD 5 billion in Türkiye. President Erdoğan also noted that Italy ranks among the top five countries in Türkiye’s foreign trade, adding, “We will continue to strengthen our cooperation with Italy in the defense industry through new partnerships and projects.”
In her remarks, Prime Minister Meloni stated that the economic dimension constitutes a fundamental part of the strategic relationship between Türkiye and Italy. She noted that Italian enterprises have played a crucial role in supporting Türkiye's infrastructure, transport, and urban development over the past two decades. In this context, she welcomed the growing interest of Italian investors in Türkiye's evolving sectors, including green energy, pharmaceuticals, defense, and critical raw materials.
One of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the progress made in defense industry collaboration. President Erdoğan announced the signing of an MoU between Türkiye's Baykar and Italy's Leonardo to establish a joint production facility for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This partnership is expected to enhance technological synergies between the two countries and facilitate integration into broader European defense value chains. In addition, Baykar's acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace, a historic Italian aviation company, was welcomed as a strategic move that reinforces Türkiye's footprint in the European aerospace industry.
Meanwhile, the Türkiye–Italy Business Forum was co-organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK). The forum brought together more than 500 companies from both countries and featured numerous B2B meetings and expert panels focused on infrastructure, sustainable energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and defense.
During the forum, President Erdoğan addressed business leaders and emphasized Türkiye's commitment to improving the investment climate and pursuing structural reforms. He underlined that Türkiye remains a reliable and competitive investment destination, backed by a dynamic private sector, a skilled labor force, and a strategic geographical position. Stressing that the new investment strategy prioritizes high-value-added sectors and sustainability, the President invited Italian companies to take a more active role in Türkiye's transformation process.
“We have attracted nearly USD 270 billion of FDI in the last 20 years. The number of companies with international capital in Türkiye increased from 6,000 to more than 80,000," President Erdoğan said.
In the High-Level Session of the Türkiye–Italy Business Forum, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır also delivered a keynote speech, emphasizing the strategic nature of the bilateral partnership. He outlined Türkiye's ongoing transformation in industry and technology, emphasizing the country's commitment to green and digital transitions. Minister Kacır noted that enhanced cooperation between Türkiye and Italy in these areas will be instrumental in achieving sustainable development goals.
During the summit, Investment and Finance Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu signed an MoU with SIMEST, a financial institution of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti under the Ministry of Treasury, which aims to support the development and promotion of Italian enterprises abroad through various financial instruments. This agreement is expected to bolster investment flows from Italy to Türkiye and foster deeper cooperation in strategic investment areas.
Investment and Finance Office Vice President Bekir Polat also attended a panel titled “Trade and Investment Opportunities in Italy & Türkiye: Made in Italy – A Success Story," where he explained the advantages and opportunities of investing in Türkiye. Polat highlighted Türkiye's strategic approach to attracting value-added investments and emphasized the country's commitment to providing an investor-friendly business environment.