Close Modi-Melloni bond key asset in Delhi-Rome ties: Italian Deputy Prime Minister Special world News

Last updated:December 19, 2025, 14:08 IST

Tajani described India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, adding that Italy, as Europe’s second-largest industrial power, is well-positioned to support that growth.

The personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly become one of the strongest pillars of Delhi-Rome relations. Over the years, their frequent meetings and evident rapport on global and strategic issues have given India-Italy relations a stable political base at a time of global churn.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, who made his second official visit to Delhi last week, sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 and explained how the political trust is being put into action. From progress on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement amid Italian investment in India and new tariff pressure from the US, to Meloni’s priorities ahead of his next visit, Tajani talked about deepening cooperation in trade, defense and technology.

He also detailed Italy’s plans to expand student admissions and scholarships, increase Italian language teaching capacity in India, launch a joint initiative to counter terror financing and Rome’s assessment of New Delhi’s growing diplomatic role, including the ability to engage Moscow while maintaining strong ties with Europe following President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India.

Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

Question: Italy has projected itself as India’s economic gateway to Europe. After your recent visit to New Delhi, what sectors are you now prioritizing for Italian investment in India?

Antonio Tajani: Italy and India share strong economic complementarities. Historically, both have served as natural endpoints of the India-Mediterranean trade and investment corridor that has existed for centuries. Building on this legacy, the Italian Government has chosen to invest decisively in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, launched under India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. It aims to better connect Italy and the wider European market to the Gulf and India via Trieste, the Adriatic, the Balkans, West Asia and North Africa. Practically, it is about bringing more India to Italy and more Italy to India.

We aim to grow trade to €20 billion by 2029 and significantly increase two-way investment. India is the world’s fastest growing major economy and is looking for reliable partners to strengthen its domestic industrial base. As Europe’s second-largest industrial power, Italy is well-positioned to contribute to that growth.

We bring strong capabilities in technology and manufacturing in sectors ranging from advanced machinery and precision agriculture to automotive, defence, waste-to-energy and even sports technologies. Our focus is on deeper co-production, joint ventures and industrial partnerships, as well as encouraging more Indian investment in Italy.

Question: With President Trump reviving tariff-based trade measures, how concerned is Italy about the potential spillover effects on India-EU trade, and could this accelerate the conclusion of an India-EU FTA?

Antonio Tajani: I would not view the economic partnership between Europe and India through the prism of steps taken by third countries. Even before President Trump became president, the EU was India’s largest trading partner in goods. Today, our trade is approximately €120 billion, which has increased by almost 90 percent in the last decade, and accounts for almost one-fifth of India’s total trade.

More than 6,000 European companies operate in India, including around 700 Italian companies, while the EU’s stock of foreign direct investment in India has reached €140.1 billion. These figures reflect the reality that Europe and India are two fundamental economic poles globally, bound by a shared commitment to technology, innovation and flexible value chains.

In this context, an ambitious and mutually beneficial free trade agreement is a clear win-win. Italy fully supports its early conclusion. There has been significant progress in negotiations between the EU and India in recent months, and we are now reaching the finish line. I am confident of a positive outcome, as there is too much at stake for both sides to miss this opportunity.

Question: Prime Minister Meloni is expected to visit India next year. What will be his top priorities to take the bilateral agenda forward?

Antonio Tajani: The close relationship between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Narendra Modi, at a working and personal level, has become an important asset in Italy-India relations. Over the past three years, the two leaders have met six times, showing a clear convergence of views and a shared, pragmatism-driven approach. We very much look forward to their next bilateral meeting. During my recent visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi confirmed that he had accepted Prime Minister Meloni’s invitation to visit Italy in 2026.

Strong political dialogue is a prerequisite for fully implementing and accelerating the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29. This roadmap guides our cooperation in priority areas including economy and innovation, defense and science, connectivity and energy, as well as culture, sports, security, mobility and people-to-people exchanges.

Question: As the Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on and President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India underlined his close ties with Prime Minister Modi, how does Italy view India’s diplomatic role – particularly its ability to engage with Moscow while maintaining strong ties with Europe?

Antonio Tajani: Italy and India share a common approach in support of peace and resolution of conflicts through dialogue. India, now the world’s most populous country and on track to become the third-largest economy by the end of the decade, is playing an increasingly influential role on the global stage.

Its growing voice in international affairs is also evident in its participation in the G7 hosted by Italy in 2024, and we consider India an indispensable actor in tackling major global challenges. Italy firmly believes in the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We are confident that New Delhi shares this objective and can contribute meaningfully to efforts to resolve the crisis.

Question: Italy is pushing for more Indian students and tourists. With US universities tightening access for Indian students, how does Italy plan to expand student admissions, scholarships and fast-track visas?

Antonio Tajani: Around 12,000 Indian students are currently studying in Italian universities, drawn by the high academic standards and strong offerings in fields such as STEM. But the Italy-India partnership is about much more than classes and degrees. It is also about the movement of talent, ideas and ambition.

We want to see many more Indian students and researchers choose Italy, not only because they benefit from our education system, but because their presence adds real value to Italian society and our innovation ecosystem. To support this, Italy plans to set up an innovation hub in India that will connect Indian talents with Italian universities, researchers and industry, leading to a two-way exchange of skills and expertise.

Language is another bridge we are keen to strengthen. Expanding the teaching of Italian in India, by increasing the number of trained language teachers, will allow a broader and more diverse group of Indian students to engage with Italy academically and culturally.

Also, our Embassy and Consulates are fully engaged in ensuring that Indian students can enter Italy in a timely and safe manner. We view student mobility not as a side issue, but as a long-term investment in the future of our bilateral relations.

Question: India and Italy have announced a joint initiative to combat terror financing following PM Modi’s talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Johannesburg in November. How will this cooperation move beyond intelligence sharing to implementation, particularly against cross-border funding networks?

Antonio Tajani: Terrorism remains a serious and common threat to both India and Italy. Following the barbaric attack in Pahalgam, our government immediately expressed its full solidarity with India. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her readiness to launch a joint initiative focused on cutting off sources of terrorist financing.

Italy brings long-term experience to this fight against terrorism. One of the guiding principles of our counter-terrorism approach comes from Giovanni Falcone, one of Italy’s most respected judges who played a decisive role in defeating organized criminal networks. His simple but powerful rule was “Follow the money.”

Implementing this principle today requires a systemic domestic approach with close coordination between law enforcement agencies, financial authorities and intelligence services. At the same time, no country can tackle this challenge alone. Strong and sustained international cooperation is needed now more than ever.

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