PM Modi Arrives in Italy; Giorgia Meloni Says, “Welcome to Rome, My Friend”—New Selfie Goes Viral

Rome: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Italy on Tuesday evening, marking the final and most significant leg of his extensive five-nation European tour. Undertaken at the special invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, this visit marks PM Modi’s first official bilateral tour to Italy.

Welcoming PM Modi, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a new and delightful selfie with him on her official social media handle. In the caption accompanying the photo, Meloni wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”—a post that subsequently went viral across the internet.

This is not the first instance where a photograph or selfie featuring PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni has gone viral online. Previously, during the COP28 summit held in Dubai in 2023, Meloni’s “Good friends at COP28” selfie—and later, during the G7 summit held in Apulia, Italy, in 2024, the video captioned “Hello from Team Melodi”—garnered global headlines.

Upon his arrival at his hotel in Italy, PM Modi received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora. Earlier, the Prime Minister was presented with a painting depicting the ghats of Varanasi.

PM’s Visit Significant in Many Respects

Considered highly significant from both strategic and diplomatic perspectives, this visit will see PM Modi meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, hold comprehensive bilateral talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and interact with leading industrialists (CEOs) from both nations. Additionally, he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where he will reiterate India’s commitment to global food security. According to a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this marks the eighth meeting between the two Prime Ministers since 2023—a testament to the strengthening ties between India and Italy. Prime Minister Meloni’s visit to India in March 2023, followed by her participation in the G20 Summit, laid a strong foundation for this friendship. Through this visit, the two leaders will now review the progress achieved under the ‘Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29′ and finalize a roadmap for cooperation in defense, countering terror financing, and exploring new sectors.

Also Read: PM Modi Meets Heads of Five Nations in Norway; Discussions Held on Defense and Other Key Issues

₹1.3 Trillion in Trade: Setting a Lofty Target for 2029
Italy has currently emerged as India’s fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union (EU). In 2025, bilateral trade between the two nations reached 14.25 billion Euros (approximately ₹1.3 trillion). The two countries have now set a highly ambitious target to further boost this figure to 20 billion Euros by the year 2029.

While Italian companies have invested over $3.66 billion in India, the confidence of Indian companies in the European market has also received a significant boost following Tata Motors’ acquisition of Italy’s Iveco Group.

Defense, AI, and a Community of 250,000 Indians
*Defense and Security:* Both nations are currently exploring opportunities for the co-development and co-production of military equipment. Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, also recently visited India.

Cutting-Edge Technology: Under the ‘Cooperation Programme 2025-27,’ several joint projects are set to be finalized in the fields of Quantum Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Green Hydrogen, and Clean Energy. Indian Community: Approximately 187,000 to 250,000 Indians reside in Italy, constituting the largest group of Indian migrants within the European Union. Through the ‘Migration and Mobility Agreement,’ pathways are being further streamlined for citizens and students (currently numbering over 5,100) from both countries.

Furthermore, Italy is playing an active role—including by appointing special envoys—in both the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the India-led Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC); consequently, this visit is poised to prove a game-changer in enhancing mutual coordination regarding global challenges.