India and Italy on Tuesday agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, with a renewed focus on trade, investment, innovation and emerging technologies. The decision was announced following high-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
“We deliberated extensively on enhancing India-Italy ties,” PM Modi said during a joint press statement after the meeting. PM Modi, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday night as part of the final leg of his five-nation tour, was accorded a ceremonial military welcome before the bilateral discussions.
Before meeting Meloni, the Indian Prime Minister also held talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The leaders discussed key aspects of India-Italy relations, including trade, investment, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, critical minerals, space, and nuclear energy.