Erdogan Jokes About Helping Italy’s Giorgia Meloni Quit Smoking At Gaza Peace Summit
Turkish President’s anti-tobacco crusade takes a lighthearted turn as Italian PM responds with wit
By Orlin Milinov
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt — Amid high-stakes diplomacy at the Gaza Peace Summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan briefly shifted focus from geopolitics to a personal crusade — convincing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to give up smoking.
In an informal exchange caught on camera and aired by İhlas News Agency, Erdogan told Meloni, “I saw you coming down from the plane. You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking.”
Standing nearby, French President Emmanuel Macron couldn’t resist a laugh and interjected: “It’s impossible!”
Meloni responded with characteristic humour, warning that quitting might not be such a good idea: “I know, I know. I don’t want to kill somebody.”
Smoking As a ‘Diplomatic Icebreaker’
In a book compiling her past interviews, Meloni previously admitted that smoking occasionally helped her “bond with world leaders,” citing informal moments shared with leaders such as Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Observers noted that the lighthearted exchange reflected a rare human moment at a summit otherwise dominated by discussions on post-war reconstruction and peace efforts in Gaza.
Erdogan’s ‘Smoke-Free Türkiye’ Vision
Erdogan, known for his staunch anti-smoking stance, has long campaigned to make Turkey a tobacco-free nation. His government’s new “Smoke-Free Türkiye” initiative (2024–2028) seeks to expand public health awareness, provide cessation support, and protect youth from tobacco addiction.
Under this plan, Ankara aims to integrate stricter anti-smoking measures into public spaces, health education, and advertising regulations — part of Erdogan’s broader health policy reforms.
Gaza Peace Summit Context
Both Meloni and Erdogan were attending the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, co-hosted by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, following a ceasefire that ended the Israel-Hamas war.
The meeting brought together several world leaders to discuss long-term stability, governance, and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, while reaffirming international support for a two-state solution.
While discussions focused on regional diplomacy, Erdogan’s offhand remark to Meloni added a lighter, human touch to an otherwise tense geopolitical gathering.
