India-Italy Strengthen Strategic Partnership with Focus on Trade, Defence, and the IMEEC Corridor

What’s in today’s article?

• India-Italy Bilateral Relations Latest News
• High-Level Diplomatic Engagement
• India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29
• IMEEC - A Strategic Connectivity Project
• India-Italy Relations - A Brief Overview
• Conclusion - A Vision for the Future
• India-Italy Bilateral Relations FAQs

India-Italy Bilateral Relations Latest News

• India and Italy have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, high technology, and strategic infrastructure. 
• A key outcome of the visit by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was the emphasis on implementing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagement

• Tajani’s visit to India:
  • Held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar.
  • Reviewed progress under the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29.
• Focus areas of discussion:
  • Trade and investment
  • Defence and security
  • Clean energy transition
  • Space, science, and technology cooperation
  • People-to-people ties
• Geopolitical and strategic convergence:
  • Regional and global issues discussed:
    • Indo-Pacific regional dynamics.
    • Global South concerns.
    • Multilateral cooperation (possibly including G20 and UN reform).
  • Italy’s focus on the Indo-Pacific:
    • Reiterated support for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
    • Reinforces India’s Act East and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) strategies.

India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29

• Launched by: Announced during PM Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s meeting in Rio de Janeiro (November 2023).
• Aim: To guide bilateral ties across multiple strategic sectors.
• Key sectors highlighted:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Cybersecurity and digital technologies
  • Renewable energy and biofuels
  • Education and professional mobility
  • Telecom and biotechnology
• Strategic outcomes expected:
  • Concrete deliverables in technology transfer, innovation, and youth engagement.
  • Institutional mechanisms for regular dialogue and joint implementation.

IMEEC - A Strategic Connectivity Project

• What is IMEEC?
  • India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) aims to connect India with Europe through the Middle East via a multimodal transport network.
  • Enhances regional connectivity, economic integration, and energy security.
• India and Italy’s role:
  • Renewed commitment to advance IMEEC implementation.
  • Italy appoints a special envoy for IMEEC, showcasing seriousness and proactive engagement.

India-Italy Relations - A Brief Overview

• Historical background:
  • Diplomatic relations established in 1947.
  • Rooted in strong cultural ties and cooperation in art, architecture, and education.
• Diplomatic relations:
  • Strategic Partnership announced in March 2023 during Italian PM Meloni’s visit to India.
  • Frequent high-level exchanges and bilateral institutional frameworks.
• Economic ties:
  • Italy is India’s 4th largest trading partner in the EU.
  • Key sectors: Machinery, automotive, chemicals, fashion, and renewable energy.
  • Bilateral trade (2023-24): Over $15 billion (approx).
• People-to-people ties:
  • Indian diaspora in Italy: ~200,000
  • Cooperation in education, academic exchanges, and cultural diplomacy.
• Recent developments:
  • Signing of JSAP (2025–29).
  • Italy’s inclusion in IMEEC.
  • Expanding defence industrial cooperation and joint ventures.

Conclusion - A Vision for the Future

• India and Italy’s evolving partnership is anchored in mutual strategic interests and shared democratic values.
• The JSAP 2025–29 and the IMEEC initiative are set to redefine bilateral engagement with long-term benefits in connectivity, energy security, innovation, and global diplomacy.
• As global geopolitics shifts towards multipolarity, the India-Italy partnership can serve as a model for resilient, sustainable, and forward-looking international collaboration.

India-Italy Bilateral Relations FAQs

Q1. What is the significance of the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 between India and Italy?

Ans. The JSAP 2025–29 provides a structured roadmap to enhance bilateral cooperation across sectors like trade, defence, clean energy, digital technologies, and mobility of professionals.

Q2. How does the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) align with India-Italy relations?

Ans. IMEEC strengthens strategic connectivity and economic integration, with Italy supporting the initiative by appointing a special envoy, indicating enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Q3. In what areas have India and Italy agreed to deepen cooperation under the recent bilateral talks?

Ans. India and Italy have agreed to expand ties in trade, defence, AI, cyber technologies, renewable energy, and education under the JSAP framework.

Q4. How do India and Italy view each other’s roles in the Indo-Pacific region?

Ans. Italy supports a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific, aligning with India's strategic interests and initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Q5. Trace the evolution of India-Italy relations in recent years.

Ans. India-Italy relations have evolved into a Strategic Partnership with growing trade, technological collaboration, and multilateral engagement, marked by high-level visits and the signing of JSAP 2025–29.

Source: IE