India, Italy elevate ties to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ after Rome summit
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi/Rome, May 20. India and Italy on May 20, 2026 agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, marking a significant expansion of cooperation across defence, trade, technology, connectivity, culture and multilateral engagement following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
The decision came during Modi’s official visit to Italy at Meloni’s invitation, building on recent high-level exchanges during the G20 and G7 summits and the implementation of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. The two leaders agreed to institutionalise annual summit-level meetings and establish a Foreign Ministers-led review mechanism to guide the new partnership.
Trade, investment and critical minerals
According to a joint declaration issued following the bilateral summit meeting, both sides set an ambitious target to raise bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029, aided by the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement. They encouraged deeper industrial partnerships in sectors ranging from clean technologies, semiconductors, automotive, energy and pharmaceuticals to ports, infrastructure and digital technologies.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in critical minerals was signed, with emphasis on sustainable supply chains and recovery from unconventional sources such as e-waste and mine tailings. An MoU in agriculture and agricultural research was also concluded.
Connectivity and IMEC
Reaffirming support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the leaders called for concrete progress at the first IMEC ministerial meeting in 2026. An MoU on maritime transport and ports was signed, with a joint working group to be set up for its implementation.
Innovation, science, AI and space
Innovation and technology were highlighted as central pillars of the partnership. The leaders announced the launch of INNOVIT India, an innovation hub aimed at linking startup ecosystems, research institutions and universities in areas including AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, fintech, energy and logistics.
They committed to cooperation on trustworthy, human-centric AI, supercomputing, quantum technologies, renewable energy, green hydrogen and the blue economy under the existing scientific cooperation programme. Collaboration between Indian academia and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste was acknowledged, alongside a new intent to enable Indian researchers access to the Elettra synchrotron facility.
In space, the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Italian Space Agency agreed to deepen work in Earth observation, heliophysics, space exploration and protection of space infrastructure.
Defence and maritime security
The two sides welcomed a Joint Declaration of Intent and a Defence Industrial Roadmap covering co-development and co-production in helicopters, naval platforms, marine armament and electronic warfare. They agreed to explore an annual high-level military dialogue and expand joint exercises.
A new Maritime Security Dialogue will be launched to strengthen coordination, information sharing and best practices at sea.
Counter-terrorism and security cooperation
Both leaders strongly condemned terrorism, including the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, and pledged closer coordination at the UN, FATF and other forums. They welcomed the first meeting of the bilateral task force on terror financing and an MoU between Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and India’s Enforcement Directorate. Talks will continue on agreements related to classified information protection, police cooperation, extradition and mutual legal assistance.
Mobility, education and culture
The two countries agreed to enhance mobility for students, researchers and skilled workers, including a dedicated framework to facilitate Indian nurses working in Italy. They welcomed the ‘Italy Calls India’ university-enterprise initiative and ongoing talks on a social security agreement.
Cultural ties received a boost with Italy joining the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal and plans to celebrate 2027 as the Year of Culture and Tourism. A twinning programme between UNESCO World Heritage sites, an Italy-India Cultural Forum and expanded film co-production were also endorsed. Italian universities were invited to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy.
India-EU, multilateral and global issues
The leaders welcomed the new India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda and supported strengthening the India-EU Trade and Technology Council and Security and Defence Partnership.
They reiterated calls for UN reform, pledged cooperation in trilateral initiatives in Africa, and reaffirmed commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific under international law. Both expressed concern over conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, calling for dialogue, de-escalation and respect for freedom of navigation, including through the Strait of Hormuz.
Looking ahead
Concluding the summit, Modi thanked Meloni for the hospitality and invited her to visit India. Both leaders expressed confidence that the new Special Strategic Partnership would drive deeper cooperation across sectors and closer coordination on regional and global challenges.
