Rome: Minister Crosetto met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto went to Istanbul to meet his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.

During the meeting, several issues were addressed: the tensions in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, with the aim of identifying every possible initiative to promote a de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire.

“Turkey has a key role in the area” declared Minister Crosetto who then added: “I believe that it is no longer time to seek a solution for one or a few states; we need to aim for a broad consensus that creates the conditions for a shared and effective solution for the Middle East. Starting with the UN, we must all work together to obtain a rapid diplomatic solution to the crises in Palestine, Lebanon and the Red Sea. In this context, Turkey, a friend of Italy and a member of NATO, can play an important role in building a shared framework and a strategy that operates on multiple levels and that leads to the possibility of peaceful coexistence for all in the Middle East. We need an approach that addresses all the problems we now face, from war to the humanitarian crisis, to the health crisis. On Prime Minister Meloni's daily input, we are doing everything we can to try to rekindle the flame of hope. In the introduction, I wanted to express my solidarity and that of the Italian Government to the Turkish Government and people for the infamous attack in Ankara, at the TAI headquarters, which today has wounded Turkey with the killing and wounding of many people.”

This meeting follows one Crosetto had with Saudi Arabia's defense minister.

Minister Crosetto also participated in the Supreme Defense Council, where the main areas of instability were discussed, with a particular focus on the Middle East and the potential threats to Italian personnel engaged in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.