UPDATE - Turkish president arrives in Italy for G7 leaders summit

UPDATES WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT’S ARRIVAL IN ITALY, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Mehmet Tosun and Merve Yildizalp

MADRID / BORGO EGEZIA, Italy (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday arrived in Italy to attend a G7 leaders summit.

Erdogan was welcomed at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Rome Omer Gucluk, and Türkiye’s Ambassador to the Vatican Ufuk Ulutas, as well as officials from Türkiye’s diplomatic representations to Rome and the Vatican.

In the morning, Turkish Ambassador to Madrid Nuket Kucukel Ezberci and other officials saw Erdogan off from a military airport near Madrid, wrapping up his visit to Spain.

Accompanying the president were first lady Emine Erdogan, his Chief Foreign Policy and Security Advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic, and Deputy Communications Director Cagatay Ozdemir.

At the summit, Erdogan will attend a session on Africa and the Mediterranean plus artificial intelligence and energy.

He will also hold a series of bilateral meetings and attend cultural events and an informal dinner.​​​​​​​

​With other world leaders, he will also pose for a family photo to mark the occasion.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar ​​​​​​​