Turkish President Erdogan Urges Italian PM Meloni to Quit Smoking During Gaza Peace Summit

Meloni expressed concerns that giving up smoking could impact her sociability.

Washington:

During a gathering of global leaders focused on Middle East peace initiatives, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took an unexpected detour to address Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's smoking habit. In a casual exchange on the sidelines of the Gaza peace summit in Egypt, Erdogan informed Meloni that he intended to help her quit smoking.

"I noticed you disembarking from the aircraft. You appear well. However, I must help you stop smoking," Erdogan was recorded telling Meloni in video footage broadcast by İhlas News Agency.

French President Emmanuel Macron, standing nearby, quickly interjected with laughter, declaring, "It's impossible!"

🇹🇷🇮🇹 ERDOGAN TO MELONI: I HAVE TO MAKE YOU STOP SMOKINGErdogan:"I saw you coming down from the plane.You look great.But I have to make you stop smoking."Meloni:"I know, I know.I don't want to kill somebody"Source: @ihacomtr https://t.co/FX7G3CR5g1 pic.twitter.com/glcfOZAA6Z

Meloni responded with a warning that abandoning cigarettes might affect her temperament, stating, "I know, I know. I don't want to kill somebody."

The Italian Prime Minister had previously acknowledged in a book based on her interviews that smoking helped facilitate connections with international leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.

Meanwhile, Erdogan has committed to creating a tobacco-free future for Turkey. Through the nationwide "Smoke-Free Türkiye" campaign, Ankara is developing a 2024-2028 action plan focusing on awareness, cessation support, and youth protection from tobacco consumption.

Both Meloni and Erdoğan participated in the summit held in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. The meeting aimed to support the Gaza ceasefire, conclude the Israel-Hamas conflict, and establish a long-term strategy for governing and reconstructing the devastated Palestinian territory.

The conference appeared orchestrated to gather international backing for US President Donald Trump's vision to end the ongoing war.