Modi meets Italy’s Deputy PM, discusses Joint Strategic Action Plan

“India-Italy friendship continues to get stronger, greatly benefiting our people and the global community,” he said, tagging Italian PM Giorgia Meloni as well.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with Tajani, where he described Italy as “one of India’s closest partners” and underlined the two countries’ joint commitment to counter terror financing.

“I want to thank you also for the message of solidarity from the government of Italy when we had this terror incident last month in New Delhi,” Jaishankar said.

The two countries are working together to counter financing of terrorism, leveraging their partnership in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“Recently, when our Prime Ministers met in the G20 in Johannesburg, we announced the joint initiative to counter financing on terrorism. That was a very positive step. We work with Italy. We regard you as one of our closest partners in that, including in the FATF, the Financial Action Task Force,” Jaishankar said.

“We are really moving forward on the Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025-29; a big part of it was the economic collaboration. You have taken leadership in moving that.”

Tajani arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day for his second visit to India this year, signalling deepening diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed him in a post on X, noting that Tajani’s programmes in Delhi and Mumbai would further bolster the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.

“Warm welcome to Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, on his arrival in New Delhi. This is his second visit to India this year. His engagements in Delhi and Mumbai will further strengthen the India-Italy Strategic Partnership,” Jaiswal wrote on X.