Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Rome as part of the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour.
Posting a candid
selfie with PM Modi on X, Meloni wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!” The Italian prime minister also added two emoticons depicting the national flags of Italy and India.
Welcome to Rome, my friend! 🇮🇹🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/mUjFL4HIqY
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 19, 2026
Meloni shared a picture of the two leaders standing at Italy’s iconic Colosseum, the ancient Roman amphitheatre also referred to as the Flavian Amphitheatre, glowing against the night sky in the heart of Rome.
The image quickly went viral, garnering over a million views, nearly 60,000 likes, and over 2,000 comments, with users celebrating the camaraderie between the two global leaders.
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PM Modi, earlier in the day, was warmly welcomed by the Indian diaspora as he arrived in Rome.
At his hotel, PM Modi interacted with members of the Indian diaspora and watched cultural performances organised in his honour. He also signed an autograph for a young admirer who presented him with a portrait.
PM Modi also admired a painting of the Varanasi ghats crafted by an Italian artist drawing inspiration from Indian heritage and culture.
PM Modi’s Italy Visit
As part of his Italy visit, the prime minister is set to hold talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, besides taking part in a range of diplomatic engagements before departing for India.
In a post on X, PM Modi said his visit to Italy would include meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also announced plans to visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), highlighting India’s continued focus on multilateral cooperation and global food security initiatives.
Sono atterrato a Roma, in Italia. Incontrerò il Presidente Sergio Mattarella e il Primo Ministro Giorgia Meloni e avrò dei colloqui con loro. Questa visita si concentrerà su come rafforzare la cooperazione tra India e Italia, con particolare attenzione al Corridoio Economico… pic.twitter.com/huZgq6lSJ6
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2026
“I have landed in Rome, Italy. I will meet President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and hold discussions with them. This visit will focus on how to strengthen cooperation between India and Italy, with particular attention to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),” PM Modi said.
“The Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 will also be reviewed. I will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), reinforcing India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security,” the prime minister added.
India-Italy Relations Gain Strong Momentum
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said Italian Deputy PM Antonio Tajani welcomed the prime minister at the Rome airport and added that India-Italy’s strategic partnership is scripting a new chapter.
Scripting a new chapter in the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives in Rome on an official visit to Italy. He was warmly received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio… pic.twitter.com/Vo96mWmPnO
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 19, 2026
“Scripting a new chapter in the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Rome on an official visit to Italy. He was warmly received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani of Italy. India and Italy share a longstanding and multifaceted partnership. The visit is set to add new momentum to the India-Italy partnership,” the MEA stated on X.
The visit comes at a time when India-Italy ties are witnessing growing momentum, with both countries pushing forward the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 aimed at deepening cooperation in key sectors.
These include trade, which touched USD 16.77 billion in 2025, investments with cumulative FDI standing at USD 3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025, along with defence, security, clean energy, technology, innovation and cultural exchanges.
Before arriving in Italy, PM Modi was in Norway for the fourth stop of his five-nation tour. He had earlier visited Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.
With inputs from ANI
