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Better Late Than Never: Italy’s Strategic Bet on India

Italy’s growing engagement with India reflects a broader, even if somewhat belated, Indo-Pacific turn.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto meets with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, India, Apr. 30, 2026.

When Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto landed in New Delhi in late April, the visit was more than a routine bilateral engagement. It marked another step in a broader strategic recalibration that has seen Italy progressively deepen its political, economic, and security ties with India. Coming on the heels of high-level diplomatic exchanges led by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and sustained political dialogue between Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni and Narendra Modi, Crosetto’s mission signaled that Rome is now investing political capital in the Indo-Pacific generally – and India specifically.

At the core of the visit is a growing defense partnership. During talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, Italy and India agreed on a new bilateral military cooperation plan for 2026–2027 (admittedly a generic, rather than specific, plan), outlining expanded joint activities between their armed forces. This includes training exchanges, general cooperation, and increased industrial collaboration – particularly in the naval sector, where Italian firms such as Fincantieri are seeking a stronger foothold in the Indian market.

Yet focusing solely on defense risks missing the larger picture. Crosetto’s visit should instead be understood as part of a multilayered diplomatic effort that has unfolded over the past year. In December 2025, Tajani (who is also Italy’s deputy prime minister) traveled to India for a number of high-level meetings with Modi and senior members of the Indian government. That visit reaffirmed a shared strategic outlook on key global issues, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, and emphasized the ambition to significantly expand bilateral trade and investment. The two sides also revisited the Italy-India Strategic Action Plan, identifying priority sectors ranging from advanced manufacturing to energy transition.

Crucially, this diplomatic momentum has been reinforced at the highest political level. Meloni and Modi have maintained a steady dialogue, and the Indian prime minister has accepted an invitation to visit Italy in 2026, a move that is expected to further institutionalize the partnership. The symbolism here matters: Italy is positioning itself not merely as a European interlocutor, but as a proactive middle power seeking relevance in the Indo-Pacific.

Italy’s growing engagement with India reflects a broader, even if somewhat belated, Indo-Pacific turn. Compared to France or even Germany, Rome has historically lacked a coherent regional strategy. However, under Meloni’s government, there has been a discernible shift toward a more assertive foreign policy, one that seeks to align Italy with emerging geopolitical realities.

India is central to this recalibration. As a major economic power, a key player in global supply chains, and a strategic counterweight to China, New Delhi offers Italy both opportunities and strategic leverage. For Rome, strengthening ties with India also serves to diversify its partnerships beyond the traditional Euro-Atlantic framework.

Defense cooperation plays a particularly important role in this context. The agreement reached during Crosetto’s visit builds on a shared interest in maritime security, especially in the Indian Ocean, a region increasingly shaped by great power competition. Italy’s naval expertise and India’s regional presence create a natural basis for........

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