Italy and India are intensifying… their bilateral relationship, advancing cooperation across political, economic, and defence sectors.
- This partnership has the potential to position both nations as pivotal players in the strategic regions of the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean, where stability and collaboration are essential for global trade and security.
- The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is an ambitious initiative to establish a new trade and logistics corridor linking the Mediterranean with the Indo-Pacific via the Middle East.
- With Italy as a potential key partner for India, IMEC could transform the Indo-Mediterranean into a strategic global nexus, enhancing Italy’s role as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The big picture. Both countries explored their shared interests in the region during a recent workshop, “Indo-Mediterranean: Italy and India, a Special Relationship,” hosted by the Med-Or Foundation and CSDR. Key topics included security and technological innovation, underscoring the potential of a stronger Italy-India partnership.
- Maritime security is at the heart of this partnership, with Italy and India committed to joint naval operations to address shared maritime threats.
- A notable example is the recent joint exercises between the Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier Nave Cavour, and the Indian Navy. These exercises enhanced interoperability and underscored both nations’ dedication to securing strategic sea lanes.
- Following a 2023 defence memorandum, Italy and India have expanded their cooperation with regular Defense Committee meetings, joint military exercises such as PASSEX, and intelligence-sharing to strengthen maritime domain awareness across critical areas in the Indo-Mediterranean.
Innovation and defence technology. Italy and India are also deepening collaboration in advanced technology sectors, such as robotics, quantum computing, and unmanned systems.
- With India’s “Make in India” policy encouraging foreign investment and domestic production, the partnership offers promising opportunities for joint ventures, supporting the production of military equipment and training in advanced defence technologies.
What’s next? Italy and India’s strategic alignment reflects a shared regional stability and cooperation vision.
- This emerging Indo-Mediterranean axis could become a cornerstone of both countries’ foreign policies, reinforcing their influence in securing open sea lanes and supporting a more interconnected global economy across the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean.
