India and Italy elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership during official talks between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Italy H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held official talks with Prime Minister of Italy H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni in Rome on 20 May 2026. The two leaders welcomed the strong momentum in high-level exchanges and the growing diversification of India-Italy cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the meeting, both leaders decided to elevate the India-Italy Strategic Partnership to the level of a Special Strategic Partnership. They also agreed to hold annual meetings between leaders and strengthen regular ministerial and institutional-level engagements.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reviewed progress under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, research and innovation, space, energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical technologies, education, culture, and people-to-people ties. The leaders also agreed to establish a Foreign Minister-level mechanism to regularly review implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan.
Both sides welcomed growing bilateral trade and investments and reaffirmed their shared goal of expanding bilateral trade to Euro 20 billion by 2029. They stressed the importance of early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement to unlock greater economic opportunities.
The two leaders also welcomed stronger defence cooperation and the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent and Industrial Roadmap for collaboration in co-design, co-development, and co-production of defence products. They appreciated ongoing cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Italian Space Agency and called for deeper collaboration in AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, and advanced technologies.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated their strong commitment to combating terrorism and welcomed progress under the Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism adopted in 2025.
The leaders also agreed to celebrate 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism between India and Italy.” They welcomed agreements on cooperation for the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal and on recruitment of nurses from India.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the Indo-Pacific, India-EU relations, and conflicts in West Asia and Europe.
Source: PM India
