Erdogan to host Italian, Libyan PMs to forge joint strategy on irregular migration

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to hold separate meetings in Istanbul on August 1 with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, Türkiye’s presidency announced in a statement, according to Turkish media.

The summit between Erdogan and Meloni is set against the backdrop of a sharp increase in irregular migration flows. Libya remains the primary departure point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, with approximately 21,000 arrivals recorded so far this year — an 80% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

In addition to bilateral discussions between the Turkish and Italian leaders, a trilateral summit is also expected to take place, according to a statement from the press office of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU). Prime Minister Dbeibah is slated to join Erdogan and Meloni to address what the statement described as “strategic issues of common interest.”

The Libyan government’s note said the Istanbul summit would focus on economic cooperation and development in the Mediterranean, strengthening partnerships in the energy and oil sectors, and tackling the issue of irregular migration and its impact on regional security and stability.

“The summit is part of the ongoing coordination between Libya, Türkiye and Italy,” the GNU statement read, “aimed at promoting joint approaches that serve the interests of the peoples of the region and contribute to sustaining international stability and cooperation.”

This Friday's meeting follows Erdogan’s visit to Rome at the end of April, where he participated in the fourth intergovernmental summit between Türkiye and Italy. During that visit, Meloni and Erdogan discussed a broad range of geopolitical crises, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and reiterated their joint commitment to the stabilisation of Libya through United Nations mediation.

Meanwhile, Libya’s Ministry of Defence has announced a new phase of targeted military operations in the western part of the country. In a press release issued on July 31, the ministry confirmed it had launched airstrikes against "outlawed groups" in specific areas as part of a broader plan to dismantle organised crime networks involved in smuggling and drug trafficking.

“These operations are intended to eliminate criminal infrastructure that directly threatens public safety and security,” the statement said, urging civilians to avoid zones where such groups are believed to be active.

According to security analysts, the air raids are likely to focus on regions west of Tripoli, particularly around Zuara, Sabrata, and nearby towns where smuggling networks have long operated.

By Tamilla Hasanova