Decoding the news. Narendra Modi’s recent presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit—standing alongside Xi Jinping and hand in hand with Vladimir Putin—sparked concern across the West.
- A superficial reading suggests an Indian prime minister aligning with the rivals of the Western order.
- Yet such dynamics are entirely consistent with India’s long-standing policy of multiple alignments and do not signify a strategic drift away from Europe or the United States, as in these days, Meloni has explained to her government.
Melodi in action. Since taking office, the Italian Prime Minister has met her Indian counterpart five times.
- The hashtag #Melodi is not just a social media slogan but emblematic of a personal rapport—one that allows Meloni to grasp with clarity India’s strategic vision.
Zoom in: what happened in Brussels. During a recent hearing of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with India, Indian representatives urged MEPs to accelerate efforts toward finalising the FTA.
- This is viewed as a vehicle to deepen EU–India ties, benefiting both the bloc and its member states and New Delhi.
- In the meantime, the EU’s Political and Security Committee will visit India from 10 to 14 September. This will be the first such visit by the committee, with a strong delegation of 30 officials.
Zoom out: détente in Washington. In recent days, Donald Trump and Narendra Modi have begun easing tensions after a period of trade frictions, raising the prospect of a White House visit that could resolve disputes over tariffs and Russian oil.
- India does not intend to abandon the axis of democracies; instead, it seeks recognition of its central role in the broader strategy to contain China.
- Tellingly, on the sidelines of the SCO summit, Modi also travelled to Japan, underscoring that the true cornerstone of his strategy remains a free and open Indo-Pacific—closely aligned with the vision of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a lodestar for Western policy in the region.
- In parallel, Modi reached out directly to Europe’s leadership: he phoned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the “coalition of the willing” meeting on Ukraine, and also held calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Meloni herself.
Catch up quickly. Meloni clearly reads this multipolar dynamic and insists that Europe must act quickly.
- The perspective on India’s non-alignment with China (and Russia) has been articulated by Charles Kupchan, professor at Georgetown University and a leading voice in international relations. In an interview with our sister website, he confirmed that India has not turned its back on the West—it is simply playing its cards.
What we’re watching. According to senior European sources, the EU–India FTA — something like the Mercosur one — could finally be sealed by the end of the year, after nearly twenty years of negotiations.
- Such a deal would not only strengthen bilateral relations but also bolster initiatives like the Indo-Middle East-Europe Corridor, in which Italy plays a role.
- Technical and political delegations work through the details and provisions to be included, but the political will and strategic necessity are unmistakable.
