In a move to leave behind “legacy issues,” Italy and India have raised their relations to the level of a strategic partnership.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have elevated the India-Italy partnership to the level of strategic partnership during their bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The Italian Prime Minister’s visit to India is a matter of strategic choice, as she decided to undertake the first bilateral visit in Asia to India, according to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

The two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral, regional, and global cooperation, and a strong bond of friendship was visible between them. They discussed five areas of importance, including defence cooperation, military exercises, maritime cooperation, space, cyber, and sea cooperation, and the need for joint exercises for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. They also focused on broader segments of economic cooperation, including trade, investment, design, innovation, manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and skill sets.

Both sides agreed to progress on the migration and mobility partnership agreement, and culture and people-to-people connectivity were also discussed. The Italian PM described both nations as cultural superpowers and agreed to strengthen the partnership in higher education, exchange of students, and cultural exchange.

The two leaders shared concerns about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the global economic situation and agreed to cooperate deeply in the Indo-Pacific. Prime Minister Modi welcomed Italy to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which was launched by him a few years ago.

This is the first bilateral VVIP visit from Italy to India after a gap of 5 years. Prime Minister Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had extensive and productive discussions on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in Indonesia in November last year.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in India on Thursday morning and was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the four court at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She had official talks with the PM in restricted format and also in the delegation level format. She also paid her tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat. PM Modi hosted the Italian Prime Minister at the Hyderabad house in New Delhi. Later in the day, she called on President Droupadi Murmi and participated in the 8th Raisina dialogue as the chief guest and the keynote speaker alongside PM Modi later in the evening.

Moreover, a CEO round table was held between the business delegations, which was co-chaired by the Indian Commerce Minister of India Piyush Goyal and the Italian Minister. The meeting is expected to pave the way for greater cooperation and investment opportunities between the two countries.

The elevation of the India-Italy partnership to the level of strategic partnership is a significant step that highlights the growing importance of the relationship between the two countries. The strategic partnership will provide a framework for the two countries to cooperate more closely on a range of issues, including defence, security, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. It will also enhance the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries have significant economic and strategic interests.

The defence cooperation agreement will pave the way for greater collaboration between the defence industries of the two countries, with a focus on manufacturing, co-production, co-design, and co-innovation. The expansion of military exercises and deepening of cooperation to all levels of armed forces will enhance the interoperability and readiness of the two countries’ armed forces.

Maritime cooperation and cooperation in the fields of space, cyber, and sea are strategic sectors where the two countries can work together to enhance their capabilities and strengthen their presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The joint exercises for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief will help the two countries to respond more effectively to natural disasters and other emergencies.