Driving the news. The two heads of government held a phone conversation to review the state of the bilateral Strategic Partnership and align on global issues in sensitive international relations.
Context. The call comes days after Modi’s participation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where his presence alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin raised concerns in Western capitals.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has recently stressed with her team that India’s policy of multiple alignments should not be mistaken for a strategic drift away from Europe or the United States — a point she underlined, urging the EU to fast-track the FTA with New Delhi.
Why it matters. The today’s conversation underscores growing convergence between Rome and New Delhi — spanning defence, technology, and trade — as both countries seek to project influence across Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.
Key points:
- Strategic Partnership: Both leaders assessed progress in investment, defence, security, space, science and tech, education, people-to-people tiene, and counterterrorism, reaffirming their commitment under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29.
- Ukraine: Modi and Meloni agreed that a peaceful resolution to the conflict is urgent. Modi reiterated India’s support for efforts in this direction.
- Trade & tech: Meloni strongly supports the swift conclusion of an India–EU Free Trade Agreement and expressed support for India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit in 2026.
- Connectivity: The leaders agreed to advance initiatives under the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC, as per the Indian acronym, internationally known as IMEC).
The big picture. The conversation highlights how Italy and India are deepening strategic alignment at a moment of flux in global trade, tech governance, and security — with Rome positioning itself as a key EU partner for New Delhi.
