(Photo Credit: PM India)
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Italy H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni announced the elevation of India-Italy relations to a Special Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s official visit to Italy, marking a major step forward in bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, technology, innovation, and global strategic issues.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Italy on 19-20 May 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Italy H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni. During the visit, both leaders decided to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a Special Strategic Partnership and agreed to hold annual meetings between leaders along with regular ministerial and institutional dialogues.
The two leaders reviewed progress under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence, security, science and technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, critical minerals, energy, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. They reaffirmed the target of expanding bilateral trade to Euro 20 billion by 2029 and welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations for the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), recognizing its importance for global trade, connectivity, maritime security, and economic growth. Both leaders welcomed new agreements on maritime transport, critical minerals, agriculture, scientific cooperation, defence collaboration, and mobility of nurses from India to Italy.
The leaders highlighted growing cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Italian Space Agency and announced stronger collaboration in AI, quantum technologies, renewable energy, green hydrogen, blue economy, supercomputing, and innovation ecosystems. They also announced the creation of “INNOVIT India,” an innovation hub aimed at connecting startups, universities, and research institutions from both countries.
On defence and security, both sides strongly condemned terrorism, including the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, and reiterated their commitment to cooperation against terrorism and terror financing at bilateral and multilateral levels.
The two leaders also agreed to celebrate 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism between Italy and India” to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges.
Source: PM India
