India and Italy set €20 billion trade target, Modi and Meloni agree to strengthen defence, trade and counter-terrorism cooperation during PM’s landmark Rome visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a highly productive two-day official visit to Italy on 20 May 2026, the final leg of his five-nation European tour. At the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the visit resulted in the elevation of India-Italy relations to the level of a Special Strategic Partnership, signifying a new era of deepened trust, shared democratic values, and multifaceted cooperation on global issues.

Prime Minister Modi held comprehensive bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Meloni at Villa Doria Pamphili and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The leaders reviewed the implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and charted an ambitious future roadmap. They also issued a detailed India-Italy Joint Declaration that outlines cooperation across political dialogue, economic ties, connectivity, science and technology, defence, security, mobility, culture, and multilateral forums.

The visit produced a rich list of concrete outcomes, including multiple MoUs and initiatives that will strengthen bilateral engagement in diverse sectors. In the realm of defence and security, the two sides adopted the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap along with a Joint Declaration of Intent on bolstering defence industrial cooperation. This framework promotes technological collaboration, co-production, and co-development projects in key areas such as helicopters, naval platforms, marine armaments, and electronic warfare.

Both nations agreed to explore an annual high-level military structured dialogue, launch a dedicated Dialogue on Maritime Security, and enhance coordination through port visits and joint exercises. An MoU was also signed between Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and India’s Directorate of Enforcement to strengthen law enforcement ties.

On the economic and trade front, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing momentum in bilateral commerce and set an ambitious target to expand trade volumes to €20 billion by 2029, capitalising on the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement. They welcomed increased investments in sectors including textiles, clean technologies, semiconductors, automotive, energy, tourism, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, critical raw materials, steel, ports, and infrastructure.

An MoU on cooperation in critical minerals was signed, emphasising sustainable supply chains, circular economy practices, and joint recovery of minerals from electronic waste and mine tailings. Additional agreements covered agriculture cooperation and marine products trade between MPEDA and ASSOITTICA ITALIA.

Connectivity received special attention, with both Prime Ministers reaffirming strong commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). They recognised its transformative potential for global trade and prosperity and called for the first IMEC Ministerial meeting in 2026 to advance the project. An MoU on maritime transport and ports was signed, alongside cooperation for the development of India’s National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.

In science, technology, innovation, and higher education, the leaders announced the creation of INNOVIT India, an innovation hub in India focused on sectors such as fintech, healthcare, semiconductors, agritech, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. They welcomed the Indo-Italian Roadmap on Higher Education and Research, supported researcher mobility in quantum technologies, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and the sustainable blue economy, and noted new partnerships involving IITM Pune, CMCC, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, and ICTP. Prime Minister Modi thanked Italy for its participation in the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi in February 2026 and both sides committed to human-centric, secure, and trustworthy AI collaboration, including in third countries.

The Joint Declaration strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and specifically denounced the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders pledged enhanced cooperation on countering terrorist financing through the UN, FATF, and other platforms, and looked forward to the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. They also welcomed progress on agreements related to police cooperation, classified information exchange, extradition, and mutual legal assistance.

On people-to-people ties, the two sides agreed to celebrate 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism between India and Italy”, featuring a broad calendar of events and a major exhibition on ancient cultural relations. A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed on nurse mobility from India to Italy, and an MoU on Ayurveda cooperation was concluded. Prime Minister Modi invited Italian universities to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy.

The leaders also addressed regional and global issues, advocating dialogue and diplomacy for the resolution of conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine. They welcomed the new India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda and reaffirmed support for multilateralism.⁠

PM Modi also visited the iconic Colosseum and had warm interactions with the Indian diaspora. Officials from both sides expressed confidence that the upgraded Special Strategic Partnership, underpinned by the Joint Declaration and the robust list of outcomes, will unlock new avenues for mutual prosperity, resilient supply chains, clean technology collaboration, and enhanced Indo-Mediterranean connectivity.

FAO visit

During his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, where he was conferred with the prestigious FAO Agricola Medal for 2026, the organisation’s highest honour. This award recognises his exceptional leadership in advancing food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development both in India and globally. Prime Minister Modi is the third Indian Prime Minister to visit FAO headquarters and the first in the last 30 years. Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu presented the medal to him in a ceremony held in the historic FAO Plenary Hall.⁠

In his address, PM Modi dedicated the honour to India’s millions of farmers, livestock rearers, fishers, agricultural scientists, and workers who have played a pivotal role in ensuring food security and nutrition. He highlighted India’s transformation from food shortages to becoming a surplus producer with over 60 million tonnes of buffer stocks and agricultural exports exceeding $51 billion.

The Prime Minister emphasised the growing role of technology in Indian agriculture, citing initiatives such as AgriStack, AI-based advisory systems, drones, and remote sensing that are making farming smarter, more data-driven, and climate-resilient. He also underscored India’s promotion of natural farming, millets, and sustainable practices as models for global food systems.⁠

He held discussions with Dr. Qu Dongyu, focusing on strengthening collaboration between India and FAO in areas such as sustainable agriculture, climate-smart farming, and nutrition. This engagement at FAO added a significant multilateral dimension to PM Modi’s bilateral visit to Italy, showcasing India’s leadership in addressing global challenges of hunger, sustainability, and rural prosperity.⁠

Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Meloni to visit India at a mutually convenient time. The Prime Minister departed from Rome, concluding a successful diplomatic tour that further strengthened India’s strategic partnerships in Europe.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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