Modi, Meloni Hold Strategic Talks in Rome, Focus on Expanding India-Italy Partnership

Rome, May 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome in Rome on Wednesday as he held high-level delegation talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, with both leaders focusing on strengthening the India-Italy strategic partnership and discussing major geopolitical developments.

Prime Minister Modi was accorded military honours before the meeting as the two leaders warmly greeted each other at the venue. The delegation-level discussions were attended by senior officials from both countries, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The talks centred on expanding cooperation across sectors such as trade, investment, technology, defence, clean energy, innovation and strategic connectivity. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments amid evolving geopolitical challenges.

Following the formal talks, Prime Minister Modi and Giorgia Meloni were scheduled to attend a working lunch with leading Indian and Italian business leaders, highlighting the growing economic engagement between the two countries. The interaction with industrial groups is expected to further boost investment partnerships and industrial cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi will also visit the Food and Agriculture Organization before concluding his Italy visit, which marks the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and held discussions on various dimensions of bilateral relations, including economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and emerging technologies.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Modi said the discussions covered areas such as Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, space cooperation and nuclear energy.

“Met President Sergio Mattarella in Rome. We discussed different aspects relating to the India-Italy friendship, including trade, investment and cultural linkages. We talked about how our nations can collaborate in areas such as AI, critical minerals, space and nuclear energy,” the Prime Minister posted.

Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Rome on Tuesday night and was warmly welcomed by Giorgia Meloni, who personally greeted him with a message on X saying, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”

Soon after his arrival, the two leaders met over dinner and later visited the iconic Colosseum, where they were seen sharing informal conversations and exchanging views on global issues.

“Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship,” Modi wrote on X after his arrival.

The visit is being viewed as another significant step in deepening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership, which has witnessed rapid growth in recent years across political, economic and technological sectors.

Highlighting the importance of the visit, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and Italy share a longstanding and multifaceted partnership and the visit would add fresh momentum to bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Modi had last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 Summit, where both countries had reaffirmed their commitment to expanding strategic cooperation.