India and Italy have upgraded their bilateral relations to a special strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rome. The two nations also agreed on a defence industrial roadmap and set a target to expand annual trade to 20 billion euros by 2029.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on May 20, 2026. They reviewed the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, space and critical minerals.
The leaders expressed deep concern over the situation in West Asia and called for resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. They also discussed the war in Ukraine and stressed the need for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
PM Modi was conferred the FAO Agricola Medal for his contributions to food security and sustainable agriculture. Both sides announced the creation of INNOVIT India, an innovation hub, and launched a dialogue on maritime security.
