Turkey, Italy and Libya leaders discuss Mediterranean migration

2/8/2025 6:14

The migration route from Libya

across the Mediterranean, used by thousands seeking a way to get

to Europe, was a top issue at a meeting on Friday between the

leaders of Turkey, Italy and Libya in Istanbul, Turkey's

presidency said.



President Tayyip Erdogan met Italian Prime Minister

Giorgia Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah

to discuss migration and other potential cooperation areas.



"Erdogan pointed to the importance of the cooperation

between the three countries against the tests that the

Mediterranean basin is facing, including irregular migration

flows," the presidency said in a statement.



He added that "long-term and sustainable solutions" were

needed to stop such migration flows, and that a multilateral

coordination was needed to achieve this, it said.



Major energy exporter Libya, long split between rival

eastern and western factions, is one of the main jumping off

points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North

Africa.



Rival regional powers - Russia, Turkey, Egypt and the United

Arab Emirates - have also been drawn into its political

divisions.



NATO member Turkey has militarily and politically supported

Libya's Tripoli-based internationally-recognised government. In

2020, it sent military personnel there to train and support its

government and later agreed a maritime demarcation accord, which

has been disputed by Egypt and Greece.



In 2022, Ankara and Tripoli also signed a preliminary

accord on energy exploration, which Egypt and Greece also

oppose.



NATO allies Turkey and Italy meanwhile have strong ties, and

have pledged to boost cooperation in the defence industry, while

also increasing their reciprocal trade.



Italy's Leonardo and Turkey's Baykar announced in

March that they were setting up a joint venture to produce

unmanned aerial vehicles, while Ankara has been inching closer

to securing a procurement of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets

from a consortium that includes Italy.



Erdogan's office also said the three leaders agreed to meet

to evaluate any decisions taken by their cooperation committees

later.