At their summit, PM Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni elevated their bilateral ties to that of a strategic partnership and signed a memorandum of understanding for defence cooperation. Modi also extended an invitation to Italian defence firms to actively take part in the Make in India programme.
“This year India and Italy are celebrating the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations. On this occasion, we have decided to elevate the India-Italy partnership to the status of a strategic partnership,” Modi said in a joint press statement with Meloni, who described him as the most loved leader in the world.
According to Modi, the two nations also agreed to regularly organise joint training sessions and exercises for their military forces.
Vinay Kwatra, the foreign secretary, said that Meloni shown a thorough comprehension of India's stance on Ukraine. Modi was asked for assistance by Meloni, the leader of the most far-right administration in Italy since World War II, in promoting a "fair peace" in Ukraine.
“We both share the hope that India as G20 president can play a central role in facilitating negotiations towards a ceasefire and a just peace,” Meloni said. In his remarks, Modi stated that India has been very clear that the Ukraine situation can only be resolved by conversation and diplomacy and that India is completely prepared to contribute to any peaceful reaction. He praised Italy's active involvement in the Indo-Pacific. “It is a matter of great pleasure that Italy has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. This will enable us to identify concrete themes for enhancing our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” Modi said.