Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a critical message about "Gaza" at the G7 (Group of Seven) heads of state and government summit, which includes permanent members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the EU.
After his visit to Spain, President Erdoğan, along with his wife Emine Erdoğan, traveled to Italy to attend the G7 Leaders Summit.
Erdoğan was welcomed at Brindisi Airport by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Türkiye's Ambassador to Rome Ömer Gücük, Türkiye's Ambassador to the Vatican Ufuk Ulutaş, and officials from the embassies in Rome and the Vatican.
President Erdoğan attended the high-level session on "Africa and the Mediterranean/Artificial Intelligence and Energy" at the invitation of Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the current G7 President.
In addition to the G7 members, the session was attended by heads of state/government from Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Algeria, South Africa, India, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the Vatican. Additionally, the session was attended by the heads of the UN, OECD, World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank.
The critical topics of the summit were determined as "the protection of the rules-based international system with reference to the Russia-Ukraine War and conflicts in the Middle East, relations with emerging economies and developing countries with a focus on Africa, migration, the climate-energy nexus, food security, and artificial intelligence."
At the high-level session on "Africa and the Mediterranean/Artificial Intelligence and Energy" that Erdoğan attended, topics related to Africa, the Mediterranean, artificial intelligence, and energy were discussed.
During the session, Pope Francis spoke on artificial intelligence, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, in his capacity as the current chair of the African Union, delivered a keynote address under the theme "Africa and the Mediterranean."
While the agenda of the G7 leaders included topics related to policy towards Russia and China, President Erdoğan focused his speech on "Africa and the Mediterranean" during the session.
President Erdoğan once again called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza before world leaders, emphasizing the need for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and a lasting two-state solution.
It was noted that President Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye's fair and balanced stance, especially in the face of challenges such as Israel's massacre in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine War, during the meeting.
It was noted that Erdoğan once again expressed support for the oppressed Palestinian people and reiterated his call for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Erdoğan also reportedly conveyed Türkiye's stance on migration management and expectations for a fair burden-sharing to the leaders.
U.S. President Joe Biden, in his speech on the sidelines of the summit, claimed to have presented his three-stage ceasefire plan but said that there had been no clear response from Hamas, stating, "We must increase pressure on Hamas."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a brief conversation with President Biden before the G7 High-Level Session on Africa and the Mediterranean/Artificial Intelligence and Energy. President Emmanuel Macron of France also approached Erdoğan before the session, and the two leaders chatted for a while.
Erdoğan had brief conversations with Pope Francis, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Abdulmecid Tebbun of Algeria, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Erdoğan posed for a photo holding hands with President Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. He also had a brief conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Nahyan.
During the summit, Erdoğan chatted with President Biden both off and on the record. Additionally, he engaged in a brief conversation with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
President Erdoğan held a meeting with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates in Italy. During the meeting, they discussed the relationship between Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, as well as regional and global issues.
Erdoğan emphasized the importance of Islamic unity in confronting Israel's genocide policies in Palestinian territories during the meeting.
He stated that achieving an urgent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that aid sent to the region for humanitarian needs reaches Palestinians easily should be considered a top priority, and efforts should be made in this regard.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally greeted each arriving leader at the summit. President Erdoğan also shook hands with Meloni upon his arrival and posed for photographs with the press.
President Erdoğan held a meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, Israel's massacres in Gaza, and global developments, focusing on actions needed to stop them.
Erdoğan expressed that Israel has become increasingly isolated recently and emphasized the need to increase and continue pressure on Israel to end its atrocities.
