PM Modi Italy Visit Highlights: PM Modi arrives in Delhi, wraps up five-nation foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour and received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora, cultural performers and local supporters gathered at his hotel in the Italian capital. Soon after landing, PM Modi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over dinner and later visited the iconic Colosseum with her, with the two leaders exchanging views on a wide range of subjects ahead of formal bilateral talks.The atmosphere around Modi’s arrival reflected both diplomatic significance and cultural warmth. The Prime Minister interacted with members of the Indian community, signed autographs for children and witnessed special cultural performances organised in his honour. Italian artists performed musical pieces inspired by Indian classical traditions, including a composition based on Raga Hamsadhwani, while an Italian Kathak artist who had lived in India for 15 years expressed happiness at welcoming the Prime Minister through dance.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to conclude his five-nation diplomatic tour with an official visit to Italy on May 19-20 at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The visit comes after a series of high-level engagements across Europe focused on boosting India’s global partnerships in trade, defence, energy security, innovation, mobility and strategic cooperation.During the Italy visit, Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Meloni and call on Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral trade and investment, defence industrial partnerships, maritime security, resilient supply chains, clean energy cooperation and technology collaboration.Ahead of the visit, India’s Ambassador to Italy Vani Rao described the trip as Modi’s first bilateral visit to Italy, noting that previous visits were linked to multilateral events such as the G7 and G20 summits. She said India-Italy ties are “growing” and “deepening”, with both governments working to implement a five-year action plan launched after the two countries announced a strategic partnership in 2023.Rao also highlighted key areas of cooperation expected to dominate discussions, including defence manufacturing, ports, mobility, talent exchange and energy security. She said India wants Italian companies to view the country not just as a market but as a long-term strategic and technology partner.The Italy leg follows Modi’s engagements in Norway, where he held talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo. The two countries elevated bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in clean energy, sustainable growth, green shipping, the blue economy, research, healthcare and innovation. Modi also welcomed Norway joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.Throughout the multi-nation tour, India projected its focus on strengthening strategic partnerships with major global economies while positioning itself as a key player in supply chain resilience, maritime security, energy transition and emerging technologies.Business communities in Italy also expressed optimism ahead of Modi’s arrival, saying the visit is expected to further strengthen already growing trade and investment ties between the two countries.