08.04.2025 17:10
The meeting between Erdoğan and Meloni, announced by DEİK, was postponed due to the economic tensions initiated by Trump. It was reported that Meloni, who was expected to meet with Erdoğan on April 17, would travel to the United States on the same date to meet face-to-face with Trump.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Rome, expected to take place next week with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has been unexpectedly postponed. The intergovernmental summit and the Italy-Turkey Business Forum, long planned between the two countries, have been moved to an unspecified date.
DEIK HAD ANNOUNCED THE MEETING
Although no official date has been announced for the Erdoğan-Meloni meeting, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) stated at the beginning of the month that the forum would be held on April 17.
In its announcement regarding the matter, DEIK stated, "Our Turkey-Italy Business Council will hold the Italy-Turkey Business Forum in Rome with the participation of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni."
"THE DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED" STATEMENT
In response to BBC Turkish's question about the reason for the postponement, the Italian Prime Minister's office stated, "The exact program had not yet been determined."
To questions about whether the postponement was related to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the response was "No comment."
ITALIAN PRESS: THE REASON FOR THE POSTPONEMENT IS TRUMP
Leading Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica reported that Meloni plans to travel to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the same dates.
La Repubblica, citing government sources, reported that Meloni is considering traveling to the U.S. between April 14-17, and this situation overlaps with Erdoğan's visit. The article stated, "Erdoğan's planned visit to Rome on April 17 has likely been postponed for this reason."
Corriere della Sera noted that Meloni wants to meet face-to-face with Trump "in the midst of the financial storm created by the U.S. President," and used the following expressions:
"Although it has not been officially announced, the postponement of the intergovernmental meeting planned to be held in Rome on April 17 with the participation of Erdoğan and his ministers may be due to this."