Türkiye and Italy Strengthen Ties With Trade and Defence Agreements

President Erdogan visited Italy this week with a clear agenda. Strengthen defence and trade ties, and reaffirm Türkiye’s growing role in European security. His trip comes as US President Donald Trump’s upending of decades of US trade and security policies has shaken up the continent.

Standing alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Erdogan emphasised Turkiye and Italy’s growing alignment on trade, defence, and the future of Europe’s security architecture. The two sides agreed to raise bilateral trade to 40 billion dollars a year. At the summit, Baykar, Türkiye’s top drone producer, signed a joint venture with Leonardo to develop advanced unmanned aerial systems. That follows an earlier deal last year, when Baykar acquired Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace. Erdogan’s meeting comes as Europe rethinks its defence posture, and as Trump’s tariff war and embrace of Russia, pushes European nations to strengthen ties with alternative partners. But how deep could ties between Ankara and Rome really go?

Guests:
Valeria Giannotta
CesPI Turkiye Observatory Director

Marco Carnelos
Fomer Italian Ambassador

Zuhal Mert Uzuner
Marmara University Professor

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