Erdogan Hosts Italy, Libya Leaders for Talks on Energy, Migration, and Regional Stability

Turkish President Erdogan met with Italian PM Meloni and Libyan PM Dbeibeh in Istanbul to strengthen cooperation on energy, migration, and Libya's stability. They discussed joint offshore energy projects, rising migrant flows to Italy, and support for a UN-led political solution in Libya.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in Istanbul for a trilateral summit aimed at strengthening collaboration in the areas of energy, migration, and regional stability.

The summit, which took place on Friday at the Presidential Dolmabahce Working Office, was held behind closed doors and was attended by several high-ranking Turkish officials. These included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the head of the National Intelligence Organization Ibrahim Kalin, and Chief Presidential Adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic.

Discussions at the summit centered on joint energy exploration initiatives in the Mediterranean Sea, strategies to curb irregular migration, and efforts to move forward with the political process in Libya, which remains mired in conflict.

A statement from Libya’s Government of National Unity described the summit as part of continuing coordination among the three nations, intended to "promote common approaches that serve regional stability and cooperation."

Cooperation in the energy sector and efforts to tackle irregular migration were key points of discussion. In June 2025, Türkiye and Libya entered into a significant energy partnership that entails conducting joint geological and geophysical surveys across four offshore zones. The agreement involves a 10,000-kilometre seismic survey campaign and is designed to unlock Libya’s largely untapped energy reserves. Türkiye will contribute its technical capabilities, while Italy is expected to play a key downstream role, especially through pipelines such as Greenstream.

Migration was another pressing issue at the summit. Libya continues to serve as the principal departure point for irregular migrants seeking to reach Europe. This year, Italy has recorded an 80 percent increase in arrivals from Libya, with more than 21,000 migrants making the journey. All three governments emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to confront the associated humanitarian and security challenges.

Relations between Türkiye and Italy—both NATO allies—have seen significant expansion in recent years in areas including trade, defence, and diplomacy. Earlier this year, Turkish drone producer Baykar entered into a cooperative agreement with Italian defence company Leonardo, highlighting the growing military and industrial ties between the two countries.

The summit also reiterated the three countries’ shared commitment to a United Nations-supported political resolution to the ongoing conflict in Libya. Both Ankara and Rome have, in past statements, expressed support for a process that is led and owned by Libyans to guarantee the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Libya continues to face internal divisions, split between rival factions based in Tripoli and Benghazi, and attempts to organize national elections have repeatedly failed.

Türkiye has maintained a central role in Libyan affairs since 2019, when it signed key maritime and security agreements with the Tripoli-based government. It later provided military assistance that enabled the government to resist an offensive by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. This intervention contributed to stabilizing western Libya and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the current unity government.

The summit held on Friday represented another milestone in Türkiye’s diplomatic strategy in the region and its sustained efforts to engage constructively with Mediterranean partners on critical issues involving energy, migration, and security.