In mid-May 2024, Georgia Meloni, the current President of the Group of Seven (G7), invited Narendra Modi, who had just been re-elected for his third term as Prime Minister of India, to attend the G7 summit in Italy. This invitation was more than just a symbolic gesture; it allowed Italy to highlight its growing interest in India to its international allies. The relationship between Italy and India appears to be thriving during Meloni’s leadership.
This partnership signifies a high-level exchange of best practices. President Modi’s visit echoes the Italian Prime Minister’s first state visit to India in March 2023. This visit marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and India, both of which are ancient civilisations with histories spanning several millennia.
Early Relations and Rising Economic Ties
The relations between Italy and India began under military auspices. During World War II, Italy was liberated from German occupation partly due to the contributions and sacrifices of around 50,000 Indian soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force in 1944. The two countries quickly established enduring relations beginning in 1947, which were formalised by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic visit to Italy in 1950.
These ties have steadily strengthened over time. Today, Italy is India’s fourth-largest European Union (EU) partner, with a trade balance favouring India by about $3 billion in 2022-2023. Additionally, Italy ranks 18th in direct foreign investment in India, with significant investments in the automotive sector. Indian companies operating in Italy are primarily active in information technology, electronics, and engineering sectors.
During World War II, Italy was liberated from German occupation partly due to the contribution and sacrifices of around 50,000 Indian soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force in 1944. The two countries quickly established enduring relations beginning in 1947, which were formalised by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic visit to Italy in 1950
Key Areas of Cooperation
Bilateral trade, technological and academic cooperation, and Defence are key components of their relations. Milestones in this partnership include the signing of a memorandum outlining cooperation ambitions in 1994 and the visit of Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio to India in May 2022, accompanied by a delegation of Italian industrialists.
Italian industrialists have consistently shown strong interest in the Indian market. Successful collaborations in the 2010s include Finmeccanica-Leonardo’s partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian aircraft carrier’s 3D L Band air surveillance radar (RAN-40L). Despite a setback when Leonardo was blacklisted due to corruption scandals in the early 2000s, other Italian companies like Fincantieri capitalised on the situation. Fincantieri signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and contributed to the propulsion system of the Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant. This partnership was further deepened by the construction of supply vessels Vikrant and Shakti.
Since March 2023, Leonardo has regained access to the Indian market, and Indo-Italian relations have accelerated across various sectors under a strategic partnership framework. These sectors include innovation and joint production in Defence and cybersecurity, space exploration, the green economy, energy, and the maritime sector (blue economy).
Shared Geopolitical Concerns
India’s military strength is growing in response to dual threats from China and Pakistan. Under Modi’s leadership, India aims to fortify its position as a regional superpower in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, there is a strategic ambition to transform the Indian Ocean into an inclusive counterpart to the Mediterranean Sea, a concept that resonates deeply with Italians.
Italy and India are committed to maintaining trade routes that support free and mutually beneficial exchanges while minimising points of tension, particularly in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). This commitment was emphasised by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto during his meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in October 2023. Crosetto stated, “The renewal of the agreement is a clear signal of the strengthening of mutual relations between the two Defences. At a time when global stability requires joint efforts, it is essential to invest in improving relations with non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries to address global problems and emerging challenges.”
Defence and Maritime Cooperation
The bilateral agreement of October 2023 outlines key areas of cooperation: general defence policies, research and innovation, training through the exchange of interns and knowledge sharing, information exchange, and industrial co-development and co-production, with a significant emphasis on maritime aspects.
Italy is committed to establishing long-term, close relationships with key regional players. This is evident through its partnerships and involvement in various initiatives such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) since 2019, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 2020, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) since 2021, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) since 2023, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) since 2023.
In September 2023, Italian liaison officers participated in a workshop organised by the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) for IORA members and their partners. The workshop, entitled “Advancing Maritime Security for a Sustainable Future,” was part of India’s Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) strategy. It included cross-presentations on the maritime security approaches of the participating countries and discussions on implementing exchange protocols to enhance maritime security.
A Qualitative Leap and Future Prospects
At the beginning of 2024, cooperation between India and Italy saw the realisation of the October 2023 agreement. The 12th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting concluded in New Delhi on March 13, focusing on strengthening defence collaboration and military exchanges. A notable aspect of this enhanced cooperation is the integration of Indian suppliers into the supply chain of the Italian defence industry. This move aims to improve resilience and add value for partners in both nations.
In the maritime domain, 2023 was marked by the visit of the Italian Navy ship ITS Morosini to Mumbai and subsequent exercises with the Indian Navy ship INS Sumedha in the Mediterranean. In 2024, activities have accelerated significantly. In February, the Italian Navy participated in the major Indian naval exercise Milan 2024. Later in the year, the Italian naval group, centred on the aircraft carrier Cavour, is set to participate in several joint activities with the Indian Navy during its five-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. Also, the Italian training ship Amerigo Vespucci is scheduled to visit Mumbai in late November.
Despite a setback when Leonardo was blacklisted due to corruption scandals in the early 2000s, other Italian companies like Fincantieri capitalised on the situation. Fincantieri signed a MoU with CSL and contributed to the propulsion system of the Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant
Takeaways
Compared to the defence partnerships India has developed with the United Kingdom or France, collaboration with Italy has been relatively limited. However, this partnership is now expanding within the framework of a lasting strategic alliance. The October 2023 agreement is particularly promising, paving the way for enhanced collaboration. It reflects the shared interest of both countries in a strategic openness that combines a multipolar vision with sustained and deepened long-term relationships across a broad spectrum of partners.
These promising initiatives underscore a mutual commitment to fostering a diverse network of strategic alliances. However, the success of these efforts will largely depend on the longevity and stability of the teams responsible for their implementation. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether these initiatives can withstand evolving geopolitical realities and the potential resurgence of bloc-centric dynamics, testing the resilience and adaptability of this burgeoning partnership.
–The writer is a defence and security industry consultant with varied experience of working with medium and large companies majorly in European market. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
–The writer is a defence and security industry consultant with varied experience of working with medium and large companies majorly in European market. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
