Modi and Meloni set out roadmap for deeper India-Italy strategic ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, writing in a joint op-ed published across multiple platforms on Wednesday (May 20, 2026), presented an expanded roadmap to strengthen cooperation between India and Italy in areas such as trade, technology, energy, space, and security, against the backdrop of the emerging “Indo-Mediterranean” corridor.

“The relationship between India and Italy has entered a pivotal phase. In recent years, our partnership has advanced with remarkable speed, transforming from a friendly association into a special strategic partnership anchored in the shared values of freedom and democracy and a common outlook for the future,” Mr. Modi and Ms. Meloni wrote in the article titled “A Strategic Partnership for the Indo-Mediterranean”.

“India and Italy stand at the crossroads of two vital centres of the global economy—the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean—areas that should no longer be seen as distinct regions, but rather as increasingly interconnected spaces,” the leaders noted.

“We are witnessing the rise of what can be described as the Indo-Mediterranean, a key corridor for trade, technology, energy, data, and ideas linking the Indian Ocean with Europe. Within this interconnected landscape, our partnership naturally evolves into a special strategic alliance—bridging continents and shaping new global realities,” the op-ed stated.

In this regard, they said, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) embodies a vision to connect these regions through advanced transport infrastructure, digital connectivity, energy networks, and resilient supply chains. India and Italy, they added, are committed to working alongside other partners to bring this initiative to fruition. The IMEC was unveiled in September 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

“Our cooperation reflects a shared understanding that prosperity and security in the 21st century will depend on nations’ capacity to innovate, navigate energy transitions, and reinforce strategic autonomy. With this objective, we have pledged to deepen and broaden our bilateral ties, pursuing new goals and combining our complementary strengths,” the leaders wrote.

Expressing their ambition to meet and exceed €20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029, Mr. Modi and Ms. Meloni said the proposed Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India would support this objective. Priority sectors include defence and aerospace, clean technologies, machinery, automotive components, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agri-food, tourism, and others.

“We seek to create a strong synergy between Italy’s design expertise, manufacturing strength, and advanced supercomputing capabilities—reflecting its status as an industrial leader—and India’s fast-growing economy, engineering talent, scale, and vibrant innovation ecosystem, which includes more than 100 unicorns and 200,000 start-ups,” the op-ed said, adding that such collaboration would drive joint value creation.

“The rising interest of Italian firms in manufacturing for the Indian market and the growing footprint of Indian companies in Italy—now exceeding 1,000 enterprises from both countries—signals deeper integration of our supply chains,” it added.

The article also underscored cooperation in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI).

“India’s Digital Public Infrastructure is increasingly being adopted by numerous countries, especially in the Global South...Italy and India have long worked together to ensure that AI development remains responsible and human-centric,” the leaders wrote, stressing their shared belief that AI can serve as a powerful tool for inclusive growth, particularly across the Global South.

“By combining India’s digital scale with Italy’s ethical framework and industrial expertise, we aim to ensure that technology upholds human dignity. Through exchanging best practices in secure digital collaboration, capacity-building, and resilient cyber infrastructure, we seek to foster an open, reliable, and inclusive digital ecosystem in which all nations can shape and benefit from AI,” Mr. Modi and Ms. Meloni stated.

They added that this vision underpins Italy’s G7 Presidency and the outcomes of the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi.

The leaders emphasised that technology must not replace individuals, undermine fundamental rights, manipulate public discourse, or distort democratic processes.

The op-ed also pointed to cooperation in space, defence, security, and strategic technologies, including safeguarding critical maritime routes, advancing renewable energy, hydrogen solutions, smart grids, and resilient infrastructure. “Our joint engagement, alongside other nations, in major India-led initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance is equally significant,” the leaders wrote.

They concluded by noting that India’s guiding principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) resonates strongly with Italy’s humanist heritage rooted in the Renaissance, which upholds individual dignity and the unifying power of culture.