Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday outlined a comprehensive vision to strengthen India-Italy ties, describing the bilateral relationship as a “special strategic partnership” that will help shape the emerging “Indo-Mediterranean” era.
In a joint op-ed titled “Italy and India: A Strategic Partnership for the Indo-Mediterranean,” the two leaders said relations between India and Italy have entered a “decisive stage,” evolving from a cordial friendship into a strategic partnership rooted in democracy, freedom and a shared vision for the future.
The leaders said the partnership is being strengthened through regular high-level political engagement and growing cooperation in trade, technology, defence, energy, innovation and connectivity.
Highlighting the changing global order, PM Modi and Meloni said prosperity and security in the 21st century would depend on countries’ ability to innovate, manage energy transitions and strengthen strategic sovereignty. They stressed that India and Italy aim to combine Italy’s industrial and manufacturing strengths with India’s scale, engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.
The two leaders said the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement would create new opportunities for trade and investment. They expressed confidence that bilateral trade could surpass the target of Euro 20 billion by 2029, with major focus areas including defence and aerospace, clean technologies, machinery, automotive components, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, tourism and agri-food sectors.
The op-ed highlighted growing industrial integration between the two countries, noting that over 1,000 Indian and Italian companies are currently operating in each other’s markets.
PM Modi and Meloni also underlined the importance of technological innovation in shaping the future partnership, particularly in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals and digital infrastructure.
The leaders said India and Italy are committed to ensuring that AI development remains responsible and human-centric. Referring to India’s “MANAV” vision and Italy’s emphasis on “algor-ethics,” they stressed that technology should empower society while safeguarding human dignity, democracy and fundamental rights.
The joint article also highlighted expanding cooperation in space technology, with India’s advancements in satellite and space exploration complementing Italy’s aerospace engineering capabilities.
On defence and security, the two Prime Ministers said both countries would deepen cooperation in defence, strategic technologies and maritime security while working together to counter terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and transnational criminal networks.
Energy cooperation emerged as another key pillar of the partnership, with both countries collaborating in renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, smart grids and resilient infrastructure. The leaders said India’s ambition to become a major green hydrogen export hub complements Italy’s expertise in renewable energy infrastructure and its strategic role as Europe’s energy gateway.
The leaders also highlighted cooperation under India-led global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and Global Biofuels Alliance.
The op-ed further emphasised the growing strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions, which the leaders described as interconnected economic and geopolitical spaces forming the foundation of an emerging “Indo-Mediterranean” corridor.
In this context, PM Modi and Meloni reiterated support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, calling it a transformative initiative aimed at connecting regions through transport infrastructure, digital networks, energy systems and resilient supply chains.
The two leaders also highlighted the cultural and civilisational foundations underpinning bilateral ties. Referring to the Indian concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and Italy’s Renaissance-inspired humanist traditions, they said both countries share values centred on human dignity, responsibility and global cooperation.
Concluding the op-ed, PM Modi and Meloni said their shared vision seeks to build a forward-looking India-Italy partnership focused on innovation, sustainable growth, connectivity and people-centric development.
