Italy: Türkiye Vital to Europe’s Security After 170 Years of Ties
(MENAFN) Italy regards Türkiye as an indispensable pillar of European security and wants deeper coordination on regional stability, NATO and multilateral initiatives, Italy’s ambassador to Ankara, Giuseppe Manzo, said in an exclusive interview with a Turkish news agency.
“We really believe that Türkiye has a crucial role in our security,” Manzo said, stressing that European security must be viewed within the wider NATO framework.
“I think it’s fair to say that we both want more Europe in NATO,” he added.
Strengthening political cooperation on regional security ranks among his top priorities, the envoy said. He named the NATO summit, the 4+4 meeting and COP31 as key opportunities for closer coordination. He also flagged shared alarm over threats on NATO’s eastern and southern flanks.
“We need to adapt to new challenges and find new answers to new questions and new threats,” he said.
“I think Italy and Türkiye are very well equipped to do this.”
Manzo said the two countries’ positions, with Italy in the Mediterranean and Türkiye at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, open the door to fresh approaches to regional and global challenges.
“By nature, we are well positioned to develop new answers and new tools to address both old problems and new challenges,” he said.
Trade, culture and global governance
The ambassador spoke as the two nations mark 170 years of diplomatic relations. Italy is Türkiye’s top trading partner in the Mediterranean and its second-largest in Europe, he said.
Manzo also pointed to deep educational and cultural links. Turkish students form the second-largest international student community in Italy, he noted, while Italian scholars and Turkish archaeologists are collaborating on 15 missions.
On global institutions, he backed reform of the UN Security Council to make it “more transparent and democratic.”
He recalled receiving a book from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that contained the phrase “The world is bigger than five,” calling the message highly relevant to debates over overhauling international bodies.
The ambassador also cited joint work in space exploration, including shared satellite projects and Türkiye’s first astronaut flying to space alongside Italian astronauts.
‘I felt at home’
Looking back on his first months in Ankara, Manzo praised Turkish hospitality and said he felt welcomed from the outset.
“I felt at home,” he said.
A native of Naples, he said his Mediterranean roots helped him connect with Turkish culture. He called Ankara his home and praised Istanbul’s historic ties with Italy.
Manzo closed by sending his best wishes to the Turkish people on Republic Day.
“We really believe that Türkiye has a crucial role in our security,” Manzo said, stressing that European security must be viewed within the wider NATO framework.
“I think it’s fair to say that we both want more Europe in NATO,” he added.
Strengthening political cooperation on regional security ranks among his top priorities, the envoy said. He named the NATO summit, the 4+4 meeting and COP31 as key opportunities for closer coordination. He also flagged shared alarm over threats on NATO’s eastern and southern flanks.
“We need to adapt to new challenges and find new answers to new questions and new threats,” he said.
“I think Italy and Türkiye are very well equipped to do this.”
Manzo said the two countries’ positions, with Italy in the Mediterranean and Türkiye at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, open the door to fresh approaches to regional and global challenges.
“By nature, we are well positioned to develop new answers and new tools to address both old problems and new challenges,” he said.
Trade, culture and global governance
The ambassador spoke as the two nations mark 170 years of diplomatic relations. Italy is Türkiye’s top trading partner in the Mediterranean and its second-largest in Europe, he said.
Manzo also pointed to deep educational and cultural links. Turkish students form the second-largest international student community in Italy, he noted, while Italian scholars and Turkish archaeologists are collaborating on 15 missions.
On global institutions, he backed reform of the UN Security Council to make it “more transparent and democratic.”
He recalled receiving a book from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that contained the phrase “The world is bigger than five,” calling the message highly relevant to debates over overhauling international bodies.
The ambassador also cited joint work in space exploration, including shared satellite projects and Türkiye’s first astronaut flying to space alongside Italian astronauts.
‘I felt at home’
Looking back on his first months in Ankara, Manzo praised Turkish hospitality and said he felt welcomed from the outset.
“I felt at home,” he said.
A native of Naples, he said his Mediterranean roots helped him connect with Turkish culture. He called Ankara his home and praised Istanbul’s historic ties with Italy.
Manzo closed by sending his best wishes to the Turkish people on Republic Day.
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