ROME — Italy and Türkiye used a ministerial phone call on Tuesday to coordinate positions on Lebanon, Gaza and maritime security, as Rome hosted a new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel.
The conversation linked three parallel priorities for Rome: advancing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, supporting the implementation of the Hamas disarmament agreement, and restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters: The call underscores growing coordination between Italy and Türkiye on regional crises.
- It comes as Rome seeks to play a diplomatic role in negotiations involving Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
- Maritime security remains closely tied to energy security and international trade.
- The discussion connects multiple regional dossiers rather than treating them separately.
The big picture: The phone call reflects Italy’s effort to position itself as an active diplomatic interlocutor across the Mediterranean, working with regional partners such as Türkiye while supporting ongoing negotiation tracks.
Zoom in: Lebanon. A central focus of the conversation was the new round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations taking place in Rome.
- According to Tajani, the talks should help strengthen the ceasefire and move toward a broader political agreement capable of improving regional stability.
- The Italian foreign minister also stressed the importance of maintaining an international presence on the ground in the future.
- According to the contextual information provided, Tajani also identified Hezbollah’s disarmament and the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon as key elements of a lasting settlement.
- Fidan expressed Türkiye’s hope that the Rome negotiations would progressively lead to a peaceful solution for the region.
Zoom in: Gaza. The ministers also discussed the agreement concerning Hamas’ disarmament. Tajani thanked Ankara for its role in facilitating the agreement, describing it as “an important step toward a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
- According to the contextual information provided, Tajani stressed that both parties should formally approve the commitments undertaken so the agreement can be fully implemented. He also highlighted Türkiye’s potential role in encouraging Hamas to respect the agreement and reiterated Italy’s readiness to support the diplomatic process.
- The same material indicates that the deployment of an international stabilization force following an Israeli withdrawal is considered among the priorities linked to implementation.
Energy and maritime security. The conversation also focused on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
- Tajani and Fidan agreed on the need for its rapid restoration, describing secure maritime routes as essential for energy security and global trade.
- According to the contextual information provided, Tajani also expressed concern over threats posed by the Houthis, reaffirmed Italy’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and recalled Italy’s role in the EU’s Operation ASPIDES, which protects commercial shipping in strategic sea lanes.
Defense cooperation. Beyond the regional crises, the ministers reaffirmed their intention to deepen Italy-Türkiye cooperation on political, economic and defense issues.
According to the contextual material, Tajani also referred to Italy’s commitment to supporting NATO and G7 partners through initiatives aimed at strengthening defense capabilities.
The bottom line: The call suggests that Rome and Ankara are seeking to keep their bilateral dialogue closely aligned across several regional crises, combining support for ongoing diplomatic negotiations with a shared focus on maritime security and broader stability in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
