Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi concluded the final leg of his five-nation tour with a productive visit to Italy on May 19-20, 2026, marked by high-level engagements that strengthened bilateral cooperation across multiple domains. The visit featured meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a joint press conference, and warm personal interactions that highlighted the deepening friendship between the two nations.
On May 20, Prime Minister Modi called on President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace in Rome. The two leaders reviewed the upward trajectory of India-Italy relations and expressed satisfaction over progress in trade and investment, science and technology, defence and security, space, energy, AI, critical technologies, education, culture, and people-to-people ties.
They discussed emerging technologies and Artificial Intelligence, and emphasised the importance of the early conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The leaders also exchanged views on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and global issues, including conflicts in West Asia and Europe, reiterating their commitment to international law, freedom of navigation, and peaceful resolution of disputes. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Mattarella for his support and extended an invitation to visit India.
Prime Minister Modi held official talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, followed by a joint press conference. In a significant outcome, both leaders decided to elevate the existing India-Italy Strategic Partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership. They agreed to hold annual leader-level meetings, including on the sidelines of multilateral events, and regular ministerial and institutional interactions. A Foreign Minister-level mechanism will regularly review the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.
Key announcements and decisions included:
- Commitment to expand bilateral trade towards the target of Euro 20 billion by 2029, leveraging the India-EU FTA for early implementation.
- Welcoming growing investments, with over 800 Italian companies in India, and interactions with CEOs in defence, digital, energy transition, infrastructure, and logistics sectors.
- Signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent and Industrial Roadmap for co-design, co-development, and co-production in defence.
- Enhanced collaboration in space (between ISRO and Italian Space Agency), AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, and cutting-edge technologies, under the principle of “Design and Develop in India and Italy, Deliver for the World”.
- Continued cooperation against terrorism, including implementation of the Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism.
- MoUs on the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat, and the recruitment of nurses from India.
- An agreement to celebrate 2027 as the Year of Culture and Tourism between the two countries.
- Reaffirmation of commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) for enhanced connectivity.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the complementarity of the two economies, Italy’s excellence in design and precision, with India’s scale, talent, and innovation. Prime Minister Meloni described the day as historic, noting that relations have reached a new and decisive stage. Both leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific and conflicts in West Asia and Europe. Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Meloni to visit India.
Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial Guard of Honour in Rome. The visit also featured warm personal moments, including a dinner, city drive, and a visit to the iconic Colosseum with Prime Minister Meloni. A light-hearted exchange saw PM Modi gifting a packet of Melody toffees to PM Meloni, adding a personal touch that went viral on social media with the hashtag #Melodi. Both leaders also penned a joint op-ed outlining their shared vision.
The visit builds on the momentum of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and reinforces India’s engagement with Europe. It underscores shared democratic values, commitment to multilateralism, and a joint approach to global challenges. This successful visit is expected to open new avenues for collaboration, positioning India and Italy as key partners in an emerging “Indo-Mediterranean” framework for innovation, security, and prosperity.
