New Delhi, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Italy marked the final stop of his five-nation tour. Upon his arrival in the capital, Rome, he was warmly welcomed by his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders engaged in discussions on several crucial issues.
On Wednesday, Meloni stated that India and Italy can effectively address global challenges by further strengthening their deep strategic partnership and cultural ties. Modi shared on social media that he co-authored a joint op-ed with Meloni, highlighting the elevated status of bilateral relations between India and Italy.
A notable moment during Modi’s visit was his gift of India’s popular candy, ‘Melody’, to Meloni. A video of this exchange went viral on social media, showcasing Meloni’s enthusiastic praise for the treat.
Experts monitoring international developments believe that while Modi’s gift of Melody may be recent, the foundation for sweetness in bilateral relations was laid during Meloni’s first meeting with Modi at the G-20 summit in Bali in 2022. Since then, their seven meetings have significantly transformed India-Italy relations, bringing them to a historic peak of friendship.
During the G-20 summit, Meloni expressed her enthusiasm for strengthening ties with India, while Modi was in search of a reliable partner in Europe. This led to agreements on issues such as green hydrogen, supply chains, and technology.
Their second meeting occurred when Meloni visited India for the Raisina Dialogue in 2023, during which both countries officially designated their relationship as a ‘strategic partnership’.
The G-20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023 further elevated their relations, with Italy deciding to join the India-Italy Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This corridor is seen as a maritime network connecting India directly to Europe and is viewed as a response to China‘s Belt and Road Initiative. Italy’s participation in IMEC not only marked a significant achievement for India but was also perceived as a major setback for China.
Subsequent meetings took place at the COP-28 summit in Dubai in December 2023 and the G-7 summit in Apulia, Italy, in June 2024, further enhancing bilateral relations.
Both nations are now focusing on strengthening joint military exercises, maritime security, and intelligence sharing. Italian defense companies are showing interest in co-producing military equipment in India, benefiting the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The growing defense capabilities of India and Italy’s strategic position in Europe have made this partnership increasingly significant.
In terms of bilateral trade, improvements have been observed since 2020-21, with trade rapidly increasing over time. After the COVID-19 pandemic, both countries revitalized their economic relations, with bilateral trade reaching approximately 8.5 billion euros.
By 2021-22, trade exceeded 13.2 billion euros, and in 2023-24, it continued to grow, reaching 14.6 billion euros. In 2024, both nations implemented a joint strategic action plan for 2025-2029.
In 2025-2026, total bilateral trade remained stable at 14.25 billion euros, with India enjoying a significant advantage in the trade balance. Notably, Italy’s investment in India increased substantially during 2025.