The partnership between Italy and Turkey has a new goal: 40 billion dollars ( 35 billion euros ) of trade in the medium term . This is the main goal set by the fourth intergovernmental summit, in which Giorgia Meloni and Recep Tayyip Erdogan relaunched the axis between the two countries , with aligned positions on the defense of the integrity of Ukraine , the push for a solution to the crisis in Gaza, and to strengthen European and Mediterranean industrial autonomy .
And in the final declaration there is also a chapter, more delicate diplomatically, in which Rome and Ankara say they are "committed to supporting the three pillars of the United Nations system, namely peace and security, development and human rights". In the background there is also the case of the arrest for corruption of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's main opponent in view of the next presidential elections. An issue that the opposition in Italy has asked the Prime Minister to raise. And on which, above all, Brussels has expressed signs of concern and which certainly does not help to unblock the negotiations for accession to the EU now frozen since 2018.
Developing relations between Turkey and the EU is one of the commitments made at Villa Pamphilj, where Erdogan, thanking the hostess for her "courageous approach", said he was certain that Rome recognizes Turkey's "contribution" "to the security of Europe and the Mediterranean" , and that it will "continue" to support the process of accession to the European Union". As well as supporting the "updating" of EU customs rules that "hinder" Turkish entrepreneurs.
The summit confirms Turkey's intention to find space in European security plans, so much so that there is a shared belief in the "importance of the widest possible involvement of non-EU allies in the EU's defense efforts". It is no coincidence that one of the main trade agreements exhibited is in the field of Defense, along with 9 memoranda of understanding between the two governments, from space to infrastructure. Namely the recent one between Leonardo and BayKar, for a joint venture for drones. Beko supports exports of Italian supply chains, including the supply of industrial machinery. And among the memoranda of understanding, also those of Sace with Limak Group and Yapi Merkezi, for infrastructure projects in Turkey and Africa. From the agreement between Sparkle and Turkcell, says Meloni, "a cutting-edge digital backbone approximately 4 thousand kilometers long will be born that will cross the Mediterranean and improve connectivity between Europe, the Middle East and Asia".
Energy cooperation is also being strengthened, not only on the supply of natural gas via Tap but also on renewables and hydrogen.
(Online Union)