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India and Italy on Wednesday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
The decision marked the biggest political outcome of Modi’s visit to Italy, which was the final leg of his European tour focused on defence, trade, technology and energy cooperation.
“I am delighted that we are upgrading our relations to a special strategic partnership,” Modi said after the talks. Meloni said the relationship was now capable of “realising its fullest potential”.
The two countries also adopted the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 to guide cooperation in trade, defence, technology, energy, education, culture and people-to-people ties.
Trade target set
India and Italy agreed to expand bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029 and push for the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“The India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 provides a practical and futuristic framework for our partnership,” Modi said.
“Through our joint efforts, bilateral trade is rapidly moving towards the target of 20 billion euros,” he added.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, artificial intelligence, critical technologies, science, research, innovation and space.
“Technology and innovation are the engines of our partnership. There is immense potential for our cooperation in areas like AI, quantum, space and civil nuclear energy,” Modi said.
He also said India and Italy were working on an India-Italy Innovation Centre to connect startups, industries and research institutions from both countries.
Defence roadmap signed
A major outcome of the visit was the finalisation of the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap.
The roadmap aims to expand defence manufacturing cooperation and facilitate co-development and co-production of military platforms and advanced technologies.
The two countries agreed to deepen partnerships in helicopters, naval platforms, marine armament and electronic warfare systems.
“Cooperation is increasing between the defence industries of both countries as well as between our militaries,” Modi said.
“Our defence industrial roadmap has paved the way for co-development and co-production,” he added.
India and Italy also agreed to launch a Dialogue on Maritime Security to improve coordination, information-sharing and cooperation in the maritime domain.
The two sides further agreed to work together on shipping, logistics, port modernisation and the blue economy.
10 MoUs signed
India and Italy signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering sectors including critical minerals, agriculture, maritime transport, marine products, higher education, Ayurveda, climate research and science cooperation.
One of the key agreements focused on critical minerals. The MoU aims to strengthen exploration, investment and cooperation across the mineral value chain and advanced technologies.
The two sides also signed an MoU between the Italian Guardia di Finanza and India’s Directorate of Enforcement to strengthen cooperation against tax crimes, money laundering and terror financing.
Another agreement focused on maritime transport and ports to strengthen maritime infrastructure and create opportunities in the shipping sector.
India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Association of Italian Seafood Companies (ASSOITTICA ITALIA) also signed an agreement to boost marine product exports to Italy.
Nurses mobility boost
India and Italy finalised a framework to facilitate the mobility of Indian nurses to Italy.
The agreement is aimed at creating employment opportunities for Indian nurses, improving recognition of Indian healthcare professionals and strengthening cooperation in healthcare capacity building.
The two countries also adopted a roadmap on higher education and research to improve institutional partnerships, advanced learning systems and youth employability.
Both sides agreed to enhance the mobility of students, researchers and skilled workers, especially in STEM sectors.
Culture push planned
India and Italy agreed to celebrate 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism between India and Italy”.
The initiative is aimed at promoting cultural exchange, tourism and employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
The two countries also signed an MoU for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat.
The agreement focuses on preserving cultural heritage and promoting knowledge-sharing in maritime history and conservation.
Science partnerships expand
India and Italy expanded cooperation in climate science, sustainability and advanced research through agreements between scientific institutions from both countries.
These included agreements involving the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the CMCC Foundation in Italy, and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste.
The agreements aim to support joint research, student and faculty exchanges, climate studies, weather sciences, material sciences and life sciences research.
The two leaders also welcomed ongoing cooperation between the Italian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and agreed to strengthen commercial space collaboration.
IMEC gets backing
India and Italy reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), calling it a project with transformational potential for global trade and connectivity.
The two leaders encouraged the first IMEC ministerial meeting to take concrete steps to advance the initiative in 2026.
Modi also said India and Italy agreed to explore joint development projects in Africa.
“We also discussed expanding our win-win partnership to third countries. Moving forward in this direction, we agreed to work on concrete projects in Africa,” he said.
Terror concerns raised
Modi and Meloni strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.
The two countries reaffirmed cooperation against terrorist groups, terror financing and global terror networks, including those listed under the UN Security Council 1267 sanctions regime.
“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,” Modi said.
The two sides also called on countries to eliminate terrorist safe havens and disrupt terror financing networks in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines.
West Asia discussed
The two leaders expressed “deep concern” over the situation in West Asia and its wider global impact.
They called for freedom of navigation and the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have been in constant contact regarding Ukraine, West Asia, and other tensions. India’s view is clear that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” Modi said.
Meloni also stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising geopolitical tensions.
India and Italy further agreed to establish a foreign ministers-led review mechanism to monitor the implementation of the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 and provide strategic guidance to the Special Strategic Partnership.
The decision marked the biggest political outcome of Modi’s visit to Italy, which was the final leg of his European tour focused on defence, trade, technology and energy cooperation.
“I am delighted that we are upgrading our relations to a special strategic partnership,” Modi said after the talks. Meloni said the relationship was now capable of “realising its fullest potential”.
A
Special Strategic Partnership that will not only benefit our nations but also the entire humanity!
The outcomes from my Italy visit will ensure more investment linkages, better trade opportunities, closer cultural linkages and more. https://t.co/lDV5F0xN1Y
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2026
The two countries also adopted the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 to guide cooperation in trade, defence, technology, energy, education, culture and people-to-people ties.
Trade target set
India and Italy agreed to expand bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029 and push for the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“The India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 provides a practical and futuristic framework for our partnership,” Modi said.
“Through our joint efforts, bilateral trade is rapidly moving towards the target of 20 billion euros,” he added.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, artificial intelligence, critical technologies, science, research, innovation and space.
“Technology and innovation are the engines of our partnership. There is immense potential for our cooperation in areas like AI, quantum, space and civil nuclear energy,” Modi said.
He also said India and Italy were working on an India-Italy Innovation Centre to connect startups, industries and research institutions from both countries.
Defence roadmap signed
A major outcome of the visit was the finalisation of the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap.
The roadmap aims to expand defence manufacturing cooperation and facilitate co-development and co-production of military platforms and advanced technologies.
The two countries agreed to deepen partnerships in helicopters, naval platforms, marine armament and electronic warfare systems.
“Cooperation is increasing between the defence industries of both countries as well as between our militaries,” Modi said.
“Our defence industrial roadmap has paved the way for co-development and co-production,” he added.
India and Italy also agreed to launch a Dialogue on Maritime Security to improve coordination, information-sharing and cooperation in the maritime domain.
The two sides further agreed to work together on shipping, logistics, port modernisation and the blue economy.
10 MoUs signed
India and Italy signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering sectors including critical minerals, agriculture, maritime transport, marine products, higher education, Ayurveda, climate research and science cooperation.
One of the key agreements focused on critical minerals. The MoU aims to strengthen exploration, investment and cooperation across the mineral value chain and advanced technologies.
The two sides also signed an MoU between the Italian Guardia di Finanza and India’s Directorate of Enforcement to strengthen cooperation against tax crimes, money laundering and terror financing.
Another agreement focused on maritime transport and ports to strengthen maritime infrastructure and create opportunities in the shipping sector.
India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Association of Italian Seafood Companies (ASSOITTICA ITALIA) also signed an agreement to boost marine product exports to Italy.
Nurses mobility boost
India and Italy finalised a framework to facilitate the mobility of Indian nurses to Italy.
The agreement is aimed at creating employment opportunities for Indian nurses, improving recognition of Indian healthcare professionals and strengthening cooperation in healthcare capacity building.
The two countries also adopted a roadmap on higher education and research to improve institutional partnerships, advanced learning systems and youth employability.
Both sides agreed to enhance the mobility of students, researchers and skilled workers, especially in STEM sectors.
Culture push planned
India and Italy agreed to celebrate 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism between India and Italy”.
The initiative is aimed at promoting cultural exchange, tourism and employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
The two countries also signed an MoU for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat.
The agreement focuses on preserving cultural heritage and promoting knowledge-sharing in maritime history and conservation.
Science partnerships expand
India and Italy expanded cooperation in climate science, sustainability and advanced research through agreements between scientific institutions from both countries.
These included agreements involving the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the CMCC Foundation in Italy, and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste.
The agreements aim to support joint research, student and faculty exchanges, climate studies, weather sciences, material sciences and life sciences research.
The two leaders also welcomed ongoing cooperation between the Italian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and agreed to strengthen commercial space collaboration.
IMEC gets backing
India and Italy reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), calling it a project with transformational potential for global trade and connectivity.
The two leaders encouraged the first IMEC ministerial meeting to take concrete steps to advance the initiative in 2026.
Modi also said India and Italy agreed to explore joint development projects in Africa.
“We also discussed expanding our win-win partnership to third countries. Moving forward in this direction, we agreed to work on concrete projects in Africa,” he said.
Terror concerns raised
Modi and Meloni strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.
The two countries reaffirmed cooperation against terrorist groups, terror financing and global terror networks, including those listed under the UN Security Council 1267 sanctions regime.
“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,” Modi said.
The two sides also called on countries to eliminate terrorist safe havens and disrupt terror financing networks in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines.
West Asia discussed
The two leaders expressed “deep concern” over the situation in West Asia and its wider global impact.
They called for freedom of navigation and the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have been in constant contact regarding Ukraine, West Asia, and other tensions. India’s view is clear that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” Modi said.
Meloni also stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising geopolitical tensions.
India and Italy further agreed to establish a foreign ministers-led review mechanism to monitor the implementation of the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 and provide strategic guidance to the Special Strategic Partnership.
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