You look great, but stop smoking, says Erdogan to Meloni; Macron laughs, It's impossible

At a summit in Egypt focused on achieving broader Middle East peace and supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan found a new target for his war on tobacco. On the sidelines of the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to quit smoking. The summit brought together world leaders to discuss ending the Israel-Hamas conflict and the reconstruction of Palestinian territory.

Erdogan was heard telling Meloni, “I saw you coming down from the plane. You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking,” in footage aired by İhlas News Agency. French President Emmanuel Macron, standing nearby, laughed and dismissed Erdogan’s hopes, saying, “It’s impossible!”

Meloni responded with a warning that quitting smoking might make her less sociable, adding, “I know, I know. I don’t want to kill somebody.” In a recent book based on interviews, Meloni acknowledged that smoking helped her bond with other global leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.


Separately, Erdogan has committed to a smoke-free future for Turkey through the “Smoke-Free Türkiye” campaign, which includes a 2024-2028 action plan focused on raising awareness, offering cessation support, and protecting youth from tobacco use.

The peace summit aimed to rally international support for the ceasefire in Gaza and advance a long-term vision for peace and reconstruction in the Palestinian territories. The gathering also aligned with US President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.