The strong personal rapport between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was prominently on display during the recent G-7 meeting in Italy. The unique bond between the two leaders was symbolised by the fusion of their names into 'Melodi' by Italian Prime Minister, signifying a deep connection between India and Italy. This newfound 'Melodi' harmony has propelled India-Italy relations to unprecedented heights, rivalling even the longstanding ties between India and France in the European context.

The unique bond between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was symbolised by the fusion of their names into 'Melodi', signifying a deep connection between India and Italy

From Past Challenges to Expanding Cooperation

In the past, issues such as the Marines dispute and defence scandals had cast a shadow over the relationship between India and Italy, hindering the progress of bilateral ties. However, both nations, with rich historical past, have now embarked on a journey towards strengthening not only their bilateral cooperation but also their collaboration on global political and economic matters. The roadmap laid out by the two leaders aims to bolster defence cooperation and foster a strategic partnership that transcends past challenges.

The recent discussions between Meloni and Modi underscored the mutual satisfaction with the increased political dialogue and growing economic collaboration between India and Italy. Emphasising the need to diversify and expand commercial ties in various sectors such as clean energy, manufacturing, space technology, and telecommunications, the leaders highlighted the importance of building resilient supply chains. Furthermore, the focus on bilateral security and defence cooperation, including the planned visit of Italian Aircraft Carrier Cavour and a training ship to India, later this year, signifies a significant step towards enhancing defence industrial cooperation and showcasing the positive trajectory of Italy-India relations.

The bilateral relations between India and Italy have been elevated to the level of strategic partnership, a significant development that took place during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni to New Delhi in March 2023

During his meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the Italian government for acknowledging the significant contributions made by the Indian army during the Italian campaign in World War II. He emphasised the importance of recognising and honouring the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers in the pursuit of global peace and stability. In line with this, Prime Minister Modi also shared the plans to upgrade the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy, which serves as a symbol of remembrance and tribute to the brave Indian soldiers who fought alongside their Italian counterparts. Furthermore, the leaders engaged in discussions regarding joint activities to be carried out under the Indo-Pacific Ocean initiative framework. Recognising the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, they explored strategic avenues to fulfill this vision. In addition, they delved into various global and regional issues of importance, highlighting the need for strengthened cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives. One such initiative discussed was the India-Middle East Economic Corridor, which holds immense potential for enhancing economic ties and fostering regional development.

Elevating Bilateral Relations to a Strategic Partnership

It is noteworthy that the bilateral relations between India and Italy have been elevated to the level of strategic partnership. This significant development took place during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni to New Delhi in March 2023. To lay the groundwork for the subsequent Prime Minister-level interaction, the two governments organised the 12th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group Meeting (MCG) in New Delhi on March 12-13, 2024. The discussions during this meeting primarily focused on exploring new avenues to enhance defence cooperation and promote military-to-military exchanges between the two nations. During the MCG meeting, the Directorate of International Defence Cooperation, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, India, and the Military Policy and Planning Division of the Italian Defence General Staff engaged in fruitful deliberations.

One notable suggestion put forth by the Indian Defence Secretary was the integration of Indian vendors into the global supply chains of Italian defence companies. This proposal aimed to bring mutual benefits and improve the resilience of the supply chain. Such collaborations not only foster technological advancements but also strengthen the defence ties between India and Italy, contributing to the overall security and stability of the region. In conjunction with this meeting, the 10th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting also took place in New Delhi. The JDC meeting, co-chaired by Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Italian Secretary General of Defence and National Armament Director Lt General Luciano, delved into ways to enhance defence industrial cooperation between the two nations. The high-ranking officials from both countries explored a wide array of defence industrial and military cooperation matters, while also exchanging perspectives on the Indo-Pacific region and security challenges.

The signing of the India-Italy Defence Cooperation agreement signifies a fresh start in defence cooperation, which is expected to strengthen ties between the defence forces and industries of both nations in the years to come

The last meeting between India and Italy was primarily focused on strengthening their defence industrial cooperation. This meeting followed the signing of an agreement on defence cooperation in October 2023, during the visit of India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, to Italy. The agreement served as a foundation for further deepening the bilateral defence relationship between the two countries. Both sides engaged in discussions on various strategies to bring defence companies from India and Italy together for collaborative projects, including potential co-production ventures within India.

Furthermore, during Rajnath Singh's visit to Italy in October 2023, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation was renewed, underscoring the commitment to further strengthening defence ties between India and Italy. The October 2023 visit of the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Rome marked a significant milestone in the bilateral defence cooperation between India and Italy. The visit paved the way for the revival of full-scale defence cooperation between the two countries. Rajnath Singh's visit resulted in the signing of a defence cooperation agreement, which was in line with the joint statement on defence cooperation issued by the highest authorities of both nations. The India-Italy summit meeting held earlier in March 2023, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, had set the stage for this agreement by outlining a comprehensive action plan to enhance defence cooperation.

Renewed Defence Relations

The defence relations between India and Italy had faced a setback due to allegations of bribery in the VVIP Augusta Westland helicopter deal. However, with the resolution of this issue by the Narendra Modi-led government, the path was cleared for a new chapter in defence relations between the two countries. The signing of the India-Italy Defence Cooperation agreement signifies a fresh start in defence cooperation, which is expected to strengthen ties between the defence forces and industries of both nations in the years to come. The joint statement released during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's state visit to New Delhi in March 2023, which mentioned the signing of an MoU on Defence cooperation, played a crucial role in laying the foundation for this agreement and fostering a cordial relationship between India and Italy in the defence sector.

The European Union's recent positive evaluation of the emerging Indo-Pacific concept has opened up new avenues for collaboration between India and Italy, especially in building resilient supply chains and infrastructure projects in third countries

After revelation of the scandal surrounding the VVIP Augusta Westland helicopter deal with Italian company Finmeccanica, the contract was ultimately cancelled in 2014 under the administration of then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Indian government took decisive action against officials, including high-ranking Indian Air Force personnel, resulting in the confiscation of the entire bank guarantee amount. The cancellation was justified on the basis of a breach of the Pre-contract Integrity Pact and the agreement by AWIL (AgustaWestland International Ltd), with the contract initially being frozen in February 2013 due to allegations of a commission payment of Rs 3.6 billion to Indian agents and officials.

During the 2020 virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Plan of Action was unveiled aimed at strengthening economic and strategic cooperation. This plan outlined a roadmap for enhancing Defence Cooperation from 2020 to 2024. During the virtual summit both Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction with the growing defence cooperation between India and Italy, highlighting the importance of regular defence exchanges. Senior officials stressed the necessity of expanding defence engagement through increased collaboration, technology sharing, and joint development and production, with a focus on expediting discussions through the Joint Defence Committee and Military Cooperation Group.

These high level interactions have already started yielding results. The Italian ambassador to New Delhi Vincenzo de Kuca recently revealed to Indian Express in an interview that Italian companies working in the field of electronic warfare are already active in India. The Italian company Elettronica have set up a joint venture with Bharat Electronics to produce electronic warfare equipment. Leonardo can promote partnerships in sectors like helicopters, torpedoes, guns and radars in the framework of Make in India programmes. In the coming years Fincantieri can set up joint shipyards.

Strategic Alignment and Future Prospects

The European Union's recent positive evaluation of the emerging Indo-Pacific concept has opened up new avenues for collaboration between India and Italy. Both countries are now looking into opportunities to work together on building resilient supply chains and infrastructure projects in third countries. Italy's proactive approach is evident from the successful organisation of a trilateral meeting involving India, Italy, and Japan to explore avenues for cooperation within the Indo-Pacific framework. This meeting highlighted the shared commitment of Italy and India to address connectivity challenges in line with international standards, good governance, rule of law, inclusiveness, transparency, and fair competition.

The joint Plan of Action agreed upon during 2020 virtual summit underscores Italy's recognition of the Indo-Pacific region as a crucial link between Asia and Europe. This strategic alignment is expected to pave the way for significant collaboration between India and Italy in implementing connectivity projects within the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the commitment expressed by both Prime Ministers during their talks on June 14 to enhance cooperation in the India Middle East Economic Corridor signals a deepening of bilateral ties. The growing camaraderie between the two leaders is likely to inject fresh momentum into defence cooperation and overall relations between India and Italy.

 

(The writer is a senior journalist and strategic affairs analyst)