Post by : Rameen Ariff

During the Gaza peace summit held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan humorously urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to quit smoking. The light-hearted exchange took place on the sidelines of discussions that focused on bringing an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict and rebuilding Gaza.

In a video shared by local media, Erdogan was heard telling Meloni, “I saw you coming down from the plane. You look great, but I have to make you stop smoking.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who was standing nearby, laughed and added, “It’s impossible!”

Responding with her usual wit, Meloni replied, “I know, I know. But if I stop smoking, I might become less sociable. I don’t want to kill somebody!” Her response drew laughter among the leaders, giving a light moment amid serious diplomatic discussions.

Interestingly, in a recently published book based on a series of her interviews, Giorgia Meloni had mentioned that smoking often helped her build connections with world leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied. She admitted that sharing a cigarette had occasionally served as a way to engage in informal yet meaningful conversations.

Meanwhile, President Erdogan has been a strong advocate for a smoke-free Turkey. Through his government’s “Smoke-Free Türkiye” campaign, Ankara aims to promote awareness, encourage people to quit smoking, and protect youth from tobacco use. The initiative is part of Turkey’s 2024–2028 national action plan to reduce smoking rates and promote healthier lifestyles.

The Gaza peace summit brought together several global leaders to support the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and discuss long-term strategies for restoring peace and rebuilding the war-torn Palestinian territory. Despite the serious nature of the talks, the light moment between Erdogan and Meloni quickly became a trending topic online, showing the human side of world diplomacy.

#Global