PM Modi holds delegation-level talks with Italian Prez Sergio Mattarella on trade, defence and energy cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a delegation-level meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome, signalling a renewed push to deepen India-Italy strategic cooperation across trade, defence, clean energy and technology sectors. The high-level engagement came during the final leg of PM Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour and underscored the growing political and economic alignment between New Delhi and Rome amid rapidly shifting global geopolitical dynamics.

The meeting brought together senior officials from both countries as the two sides reviewed the expanding partnership under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, which has emerged as the central framework guiding bilateral cooperation between India and Italy.

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During the talks, PM Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other senior diplomatic officials.

🎥| PM Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.@narendramodi | @MEAIndia | #PMModi #India #Italy #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/ONnVT99T5w

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) May 20, 2026

PM Modi met Giorgia Meloni ahead of formal talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shortly after arriving in Rome. The two leaders later visited the historic Colosseum, where they held extensive discussions on multiple regional and global issues. Sharing details of the interaction on X, PM Modi said he had exchanged views with Giorgia Meloni on a wide range of subjects and expressed optimism about further strengthening ties between the two countries.

Il rapporto tra India e Italia ha ormai raggiunto una fase decisiva. Negli ultimi anni, i nostri legami si sono ampliati con uno slancio senza precedenti, evolvendo da una cordiale amicizia a un partenariato strategico speciale fondato sui valori di libertà e democrazia, nonché… pic.twitter.com/pSjHkFvdcX

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026

The meeting between the two leaders reflected the growing warmth in India-Italy relations, which have witnessed steady expansion in strategic, economic and diplomatic engagement over the past few years.

Thank you for the gift pic.twitter.com/7ePxbJwPbA

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026

India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan

PM Modi’s Italy visit comes at a time when both countries are actively working to implement the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, aimed at broadening cooperation in critical sectors.

Trade between India and Italy reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025, highlighting the sharp rise in commercial engagement between the two economies. Italian investment in India has also continued to grow, with cumulative foreign direct investment touching USD 3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025.

Apart from trade and investment, both sides are placing strong emphasis on defence collaboration, security cooperation, clean energy initiatives, science and technology partnerships, innovation and deeper people-to-people exchanges.

Rome visit marks final leg of PM Modi’s five-nation tour

The Italy visit marks the concluding phase of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s extensive five-nation diplomatic outreach programme aimed at strengthening India’s global partnerships and expanding strategic cooperation with key international allies.

Officials indicated that discussions in Rome focused not only on bilateral issues but also on broader geopolitical and economic developments affecting Europe, the Indo-Pacific and global supply chains.