Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Rome on Tuesday to attend the Fourth Turkey-Italy Intergovernmental Summit, held at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The high-level visit is expected to bolster bilateral ties and deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Erdoğan departed Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport earlier in the day, where he was seen off by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Secretary General of the Presidency Hakkı Susmaz, and Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin.

Accompanying Erdoğan on the trip are several key members of the Turkish government, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, and Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. Also in the delegation are Head of the National Intelligence Service İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Defence Industry Director Haluk Görgün, and Chief Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç.

At the summit in Rome, discussions are set to focus on strengthening economic and strategic cooperation between Turkey and Italy. Leaders will also exchange views on current regional and global developments, according to an official statement.

In a message posted on social media, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said:

"Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay an official visit to Italy to attend the Fourth Türkiye-Italy Intergovernmental Summit upon the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. As part of the summit, steps to further strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and Italy will be discussed, and views will be exchanged on current regional and global issues. The Summit is anticipated to feature the signing of various agreements that will enhance the contractual foundation of bilateral relations, alongside the organisation of a Business Forum attended by business leaders from both countries."

The summit is expected to result in a number of new agreements aimed at expanding economic, industrial, and political cooperation, signaling a new chapter in Türkiye-Italy relations. (ILKHA)