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Italy’s ambassador to Ankara, Giuseppe Manzo, said Türkiye plays an “indispensable” role in European security and described bilateral relations between the two countries as “excellent,” calling for their close ties to be reflected more strongly in multilateral platforms.
Speaking to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Manzo said both Italy and Türkiye place great importance on stability and security in Anatolia and the surrounding region.
“We truly believe that Türkiye has an indispensable role in our security,” Manzo said, noting that both countries are NATO allies and share similar views on the need for greater European involvement in the alliance.
He said Italy and Türkiye also agree on the importance of securing NATO’s eastern and southern flanks and adapting existing structures to new threats.
“You cannot use old tools to deal with new problems,” Manzo said.
Manzo, who began his posting in Ankara in February, described taking up the role as both an honor and a responsibility.
Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Italy date back to 1856 and predate the establishment of both modern republics.
Manzo also pointed to centuries-old Italian representation in Istanbul, recalling that Venetian envoys, known as “Bailo,” once lived in the same residence he now uses in the city.
Cooperation between Turkish and Italian archaeologists, saying 15 joint archaeological missions are currently being carried out.
Manzo said Turkish students make up a significant part of the international student community in Italy, while many young Italians also travel to Türkiye, helping strengthen cultural ties.
Manzo said Italy is Türkiye’s largest trading partner in the Mediterranean and its second-largest in Europe.
He said the personal relationship between the two countries’ leaders had also contributed positively to bilateral ties.
Referring to the R4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Istanbul in October, Manzo said Italy and Türkiye were “on the same side” in seeking greater regional stability.
He pointed to Türkiye’s recent hosting of the NATO Ankara Summit and the International Astronautical Congress, as well as the upcoming COP31, as areas where the two countries could work together.
Türkiye’s first astronaut, Alper Gezeravci, traveled to space as part of the Axiom-3 mission alongside Italian astronaut Col. Walter Villadei.
He said cooperation could expand further in the space sector.
Manzo said Türkiye was assuming an increasingly important role and stressed the need for new responses to emerging security challenges.
Italy also supports efforts to make global governance, including the U.N. Security Council, more transparent and democratic.
He added that the strong bilateral relationship between Türkiye and Italy should increasingly be carried into wider international and multilateral platforms.
Manzo also praised Turkish hospitality, saying he had experienced it personally since arriving in the country and describing the priority given to guests as a distinctive feature of Turkish culture.
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