Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Rome on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aimed at boosting trade and cooperation between the two Mediterranean countries.

Ms. Meloni and Mr. Erdogan will also discuss the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East ahead of a summit where Italian and Turkish ministers are expected to sign a series of agreements in areas including energy and defense, according to an Italian government source.

“The goal is to strengthen cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two nations and to encourage economic and trade relations, which have significantly developed in recent years,” the source stated.

This meeting comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed the European Union to seek closer security ties with Turkey, a NATO ally and long-time EU membership candidate.

The war in Ukraine has also propelled the defense industry to new heights, with Italian defense company Leonardo agreeing with Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar to jointly develop drones.

Combating illegal immigration, a key issue for Ms. Meloni who leads the post-fascist party Fratelli d’Italia (FDI), is also on the agenda.

In recent years, Ankara has played a leading role in curbing irregular arrivals in Europe, receiving billions from Brussels in return.

The delegations will also seek to strengthen cooperation in areas such as transport, infrastructure, space and sports, as Italy and Turkey are set to co-host the Euro 2032 football tournament. Italy is Turkey's second-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching $32.2 billion in 2024, according to Rome.