India-Italy ties hit sweet spot: Deals on defence, critical minerals

NEW DELHI: India and Italy upgraded their relationship to a special strategic partnership, launched a defence industrial roadmap and signed an agreement for cooperation in critical minerals as Italian PM Giorgia Meloni hosted counterpart Narendra Modi for talks during what was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to the country in 26 years.There were 12 other outcomes from the visit, including an MoU to prevent tax crimes and money laundering and another MoU to boost connectivity through cooperation in maritime transport and ports, as both leaders backed the IMEC project calling for concrete steps to advance the initiative in 2026.Also read: Sweet melody in Italy triggers bitter political war at homeMore than the outcomes though, it was the display of what Meloni described as her genuine friendship with Modi based on mutual respect and trust that attracted attention, as the Indian PM gifted her a ‘Melody’ toffee sampler and the leaders posed for a selfie at the Colosseum.The Italian PM joined Modi in strongly condemning in a joint statement cross-border terrorism, including the Pahalgam terrorist attack.With both countries maintaining a significant presence in Africa, they also agreed to work together on “concrete” projects in Africa including in areas like healthcare, connectivity, AI and renewable energy.In his media statement, Modi said that close cooperation in the field of defence and security was a symbol of deep mutual trust between India and Italy. “Cooperation is increasing between the defense industries of both the countries as well as between our armies. Our defence industrial roadmap has paved the way for co-development and co-production,” he said.According to the joint statement, the roadmap will promote technological cooperation, co-production and co-development projects, including helicopters, naval platforms, marine armament and electronic warfare. “They also recognized the importance of protecting critical infrastructures and their related supply chains through the strengthening of industrial resilience,” it said, adding that the leaders agreed to launch a maritime security dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.Underlining India’s position on terrorism, Modi said both countries agreed terrorism posed a serious challenge to humanity and their joint initiative against terror-financing had set an important example for the entire world. “India and Italy have sent a clear message that responsible democracies not only condemn terrorism but also take concrete steps to disrupt its financial networks,” he said, as the joint statement reiterated the shared commitment to work together at the UN, FATF and other multilateral platforms against terrorism.Also read: Italy PM Meloni’s ‘parishram’ pitch steals spotlight at PM Modi press meet in RomeThe leaders expressed concerns over the situation in Ukraine and West Asia, with Modi reiterating India’s position that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. They also called for freedom of navigation and the resumption of global flows through the Strait of Hormuz, said the joint statement.The Indian PM described technology and innovation as the engines of the India-Italy partnership. “There is immense potential for our cooperation in areas like AI, quantum, space and civil nuclear energy. We are working on the India-Italy Innovation Centre to connect the startups, research centers and industries of both the countries,” he said.Also read: PM Modi, Meloni's op-ed - 'Italy & India: A Strategic Partnership For The Indo-Mediterranean'“India is recognized as a powerhouse of scale, talent, and affordable innovation. Therefore, we will move forward on the principle of Design and Develop in India and Italy, and Deliver for the World. From fashion to fintech, leather to logistics, mobility to manufacturing, we will combine our strengths in every sector to work for the benefit of all humanity,” added the PM.The 2 countries also signed an MoU for critical minerals cooperation, agreeing to establish a structured framework for collaboration, with emphasis on sustainability and resilient supply chains.