Implica

India and Italy elevate ties to special strategic partnership

India and Italy elevated their relationship to a special strategic partnership after talks in Rome on May 20, 2026. The two governments also moved to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, new technologies, defence and critical minerals.

The shift matters because it signals a broader effort by India to strengthen ties with Europe and build strategic supply chains.

  • Italy was among the first major Western powers to recognize independent India in 1947.
  • Rome has long been a key diplomatic hub in Europe because of its role in the European Union and NATO policymaking.
  • Critical minerals have become a major issue worldwide as countries race to secure inputs for electric vehicles and semiconductors.
India and Italy elevate ties to special strategic partnership | Implica