"You Must Quit Smoking": Erdoğan's Advice to Meloni

13 OCT 2025 15:59

During the Gaza summit in Egypt, an informal and interesting conversation took place between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. As reported by the Turkish İhlas agency, during the conversation, Erdoğan, who is known for his intolerant attitude towards smoking, called on his Italian colleague to give up the harmful habit.

"You look great, but I have to make you quit smoking," Erdoğan told Meloni. The Italian Prime Minister retorted with a smile: "No, no, no." French President Emmanuel Macron, who was next to them, also smiling, intervened, saying that "it's impossible."

Before the conversation, Meloni had inquired about the Turkish president's well-being, noting that their planes had arrived at Sharm el-Sheikh airport at the same time.