Erdogan Urges Italian PM Meloni to Quit Smoking: Her Response Revealed

During a recent diplomatic gathering, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unexpectedly shifted the spotlight to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, urging her to quit smoking. This informal discussion took place on the sidelines of the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

Erdogan’s Anti-Smoking Appeal

Erdogan approached Meloni, telling her he had seen her disembark from the plane and complimented her appearance, but insisted he wanted her to stop smoking. This interaction was broadcasted by the İhlas News Agency. Meloni acknowledged the comment humorously, indicating that quitting smoking might affect her social interactions, and remarked, “I don’t want to kill somebody.”

Global Leaders React

As this exchange unfolded, French President Emmanuel Macron, standing nearby, humorously expressed skepticism about Meloni quitting smoking by interjecting, “It’s impossible!” This light-hearted moment was captured and shared on social media.

Smoking and Diplomacy

The Italian Prime Minister had previously mentioned in interviews that smoking sometimes eased her bonding with world leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied. Despite this, Erdogan’s commitment to a smoke-free Turkey remains firm.

Turkey’s Smoke-Free Campaign

In Turkey, a “Smoke-Free Türkiye” initiative is underway, with an action plan set for 2024-2028. This program aims to spread awareness, support cessation efforts, and protect youth from tobacco use.

Summit Objectives

Both leaders attended a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The meeting focused on solidifying the recently reached ceasefire in Gaza, seeking to conclude the Israel-Hamas conflict, and devising a long-term strategy for rebuilding Palestinian territories.

The summit emphasized garnering international backing for then US President Donald Trump’s proposed framework to resolve the ongoing Middle East disputes.