India-Italy Strategic Partnership

General Studies Paper -3

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Italian counterpart with a focus on a free and open Indo-Pacific and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

About

• Both the leaders reviewed the progress of the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

India-Italy Strategic Partnership

• India and Italy elevated their Relations into Strategic Partnership in 2023.
• Italy is the next country in Europe after France, Germany and The Netherlands, to be taking a keen interest in engagements in the Indo-Pacific region and a gradual upswing in its ties with India is an important part of its recent Indo-Pacific pivot.
• In 2021, the ‘India-Italy-Japan’ trilateral was launched, with an aim to work towards the security, stability, prosperity and multilateralism of the Indo-Pacific region.
• It is the second trilateral that India has, in the Indo-Pacific region, involving a European country, after the ‘India-France-Australia’ trilateral.
• Global Forums: Italy joined both the significant initiatives, launched on the margins of the G20 Summit, the ‘Global Biofuel Alliance’ and the ‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’.
  • Italy has also joined the ‘International Solar Alliance’ (ISA), in 2021, which was the year of the Italian Presidency of G20 and co-Presidency of COP26.
• Bilateral trade between India and Italy has substantially increased; it was estimated at 4.9 billion Euros in 2022, with a 42% growth over 2021.
  • Italy is the fifth largest trading partner of India in the EU.
  • Italy, which is looking at supply chain consolidation and diversification in its post-pandemic recovery, sees India as an important partner in the region.
• The two countries are looking forwards to strengthen cooperation in defence technology, maritime security and space, with similar concerns in maritime domain.
• Relations with China: At the same time, there is also Italy’s growing concern about China in the broader European and Indo-Pacific region.
  • There are reports about Italy’s intention to exit China’s BRI. In case this happens, it will be a significant policy shift for Italy.
  • Geopolitical necessities are resulting in Italian policy makers, shaping and reshaping their relationships in Asia.

Way Ahead

• Recent developments show that there is a renewed interest in the relationship from both sides.
• India and Italy can leverage their strategic positions in the Indian Ocean and in the Mediterranean, respectively, to promote connectivity, stability, energy security, freedom of navigation in the two maritime geographies, and therefore in the wider Indo-Pacific region.