India-Italy to Deepen Ties with Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Context

Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani, visited India to strengthen bilateral cooperation between both the countries.

Key Highlights

• Both the countries discussed ways to enhance cooperation in exchange, defence, smooth electricity, and technology, focusing on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
• Focus needs to be on deepening India-Italy cooperation under the framework of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29.

India–Italy Relations 

• Historical Connect: Italy’s port towns once served as critical nodes on the historical spice trade route, linking the East and the Mediterranean.
  • The Venetian service provider Marco Polo’s 13th-century travels to India exemplify the long-status civilizational touch between the 2 spaces.
• Diplomatic Ties: India and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1947, based on historic connections and shared cultural values.
  • India and Italy expanded their Relations into Strategic Partnership in 2023.
  • The Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–29 launched in 2024 between India and Italy marks a large step toward deepening their bilateral relationship.
  • Italy’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2023—after being its most effective G7 signatory—resonates with India’s concerns over China’s growing footprint in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
• Economic Cooperation: Bilateral trade stood at $13.220 billion in 2023–24, with Indian exports valued at $7.94 billion.
  • Italy is India’s 4th biggest trading accomplice in the EU and ranked 17th in FDI inflows into India between 2000 and 2023.
• Defence Cooperation: INS Sumedha participated in a PASSEX (Passing Exercise) with ITS Morosini off the coast of Sardinia in 2023.
  • The Italian Navy participated in MILAN 2024, a multinational naval exercise hosted by India in 2024.
• Multilateral Convergence: Both countries assist multilateralism, and Italy has joined key Indian-led tasks along with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
• Cultural Diplomacy: From yoga to Italian cuisine, the cultural exchanges between India and Italy create a unique bond.
  • The Executive Programme on Cultural Cooperation for the term 2023-27 was signed in 2023.
• Indian Diaspora: The Indian community in Italy is envisioned at 2 lakhs which includes Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).
  • The Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) was signed in 2023 to facilitate safe and legal migration of seasonal and non-seasonal workers, researchers, experts and academicians.

Challenges

• Structural Trade Barriers: Non-tariff limitations, regulatory delays, and logistical constraints restrict capability trade growth between both the countries.
• Italian Marines Case (2012): The case triggered a diplomatic force, with issues over national sovereignty and legal jurisdiction impacting defence ties.
• Differing Policies on Military Sales: Italy has been selling military gadgets to Pakistan which has created a trust of policy divergence in defence topics between the 2 nations.

Way Ahead

• Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–29: Focused execution of this roadmap can unencumber capacity in sectors including change, innovation, education, defence and sustainability.
• Boost Innovation & Start-Up Linkages: Establish joint incubation centres and tech parks focusing on AI, green energy, biotech, and space.
  • Streamline FDI processes and regulatory frameworks to foster a greater predictable, investor-friendly environment for Italian investments in India and Indian groups in Italy.
  • During Italy-India Business, Science and Technology Forum, Italy emphasised deepening cooperation in AI, supercomputing, defence, innovation, and space technology.
  • India also underlined new sectors of synergy in trend, luxurious goods, prescribed drugs, meals processing, green tech, tourism, and manufacturing.

Source: The PIB

Prelims PYQ

Q. Consider the following countries:

a) Italy

b) Japan

c) Nigeria

d) South Korea

e) South Africa

Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population or declining population?

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1, 3 and 5

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 3 and 5 only

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