Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, Wednesday, during his joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, that India and Italy are “closer than ever.” Speaking in Rome, the two Prime Ministers said that India and Italy will cooperate in a range of areas, including defense and innovation, as part of strengthening their strategic partnership.
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“The India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 gives our relations a practical and future-proof framework,” Modi said during the press conference, soon after Prime Minister Meloni announced that the two countries were elevating ties to form a “special strategic partnership”.
The lifting of ties comes at a time when Italy remains India’s fourth largest trading partner in the European Union. Furthermore, Italy also has a strong Indian community of nearly two million Indians, making it the largest group of Indian migrants in the European Union.
Speaking at their joint press conference, Prime Minister Modi said that he and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni “discussed extensively” strengthening relations between the two countries.
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Modi and Meloni talk about strengthening Indo-Italian relations | Key points
- During the press conference, Modi announced that the Indo-Italian Innovation Center is under construction and will be inaugurated soon.
- The Indian Prime Minister added that cooperation has increased between New Delhi and Rome, especially in the field of defence.
- “India and Italy are maritime powers, and close cooperation is essential in connectivity. We will work together in shipping, port modernization, logistics and blue economy,” Modi said.
- In addition to the defense partnership between India and Italy, Prime Minister Meloni highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The two leaders also announced a joint initiative to address terrorist financing. “India and Italy are united in the position that terrorism represents a serious challenge to humanity. The two countries’ cooperation on financing terrorism has set an example to the world,” Modi said.
- Speaking about the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, Modi reiterated India’s position that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
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Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday evening on the last leg of his five-nation tour, and received ceremonial military honors when he arrived for talks with Giorgia Meloni.
Ahead of their bilateral talks, Modi also met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and discussed various aspects of India-Italy friendship, including trade, investment and cultural ties.
