PM Modi, Italian PM Meloni hold talks

New Delhi, Sep 10: PM Modi spoke on the phone today with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with both leaders reviewing progress in their Strategic Partnership and pledging to deepen cooperation in the years ahead.

The two leaders assessed developments across key sectors including investment, defence, security, space, science and technology, education, counter-terrorism, and people-to-people ties.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–29, which aims to further expand the partnership.

Discussions also covered pressing regional and global challenges. Both leaders underscored the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, with Prime Minister Modi reiterating India’s support for diplomatic efforts in this direction. Prime Minister Meloni, for her part, expressed Italy’s strong backing for an early conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement and the success of the AI Impact Summit, to be hosted by India in 2026. They also agreed to strengthen connectivity initiatives under the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC). The relationship between the two leaders has been warm, with several of their past interactions at multilateral forums and international events going viral on social media. Their camaraderie has been widely noted as a sign of growing trust and cooperation between India and Italy. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.