Prime Ministers review India-Italy Strategic Partnership

Syllabus: International Relations

•Source: TH*

Context: The Prime Minister met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit to review their strategic partnership. They focused on the Indo-Pacific and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

What is Strategic Partnership in International Relations?

A strategic partnership is a formal alliance between countries that collaborate on key issues such as security, trade, and political matters. It involves mutual commitments to support each other’s interests and aims to enhance stability and prosperity through cooperation. These partnerships often include agreements on defence cooperation, economic collaboration, and diplomatic support in international forums.

Highlights of the recent meeting between the two PMs:

• Commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

• Discussed expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, space, AI, and critical minerals.

• Welcomed recent MoU on Industrial Property Rights.

• Announced forthcoming visit of Italian naval ships to India.

• Emphasized strong people-to-people ties and the establishment of an ICCR chair at the University of Milan.

• Discussed the implementation of the Migration and Mobility Agreement.

• Indian PM thanked Italy for recognizing Indian contributions during WWII and informed about upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial in Italy.

Various dimensions of the India-Italy relationship are as follows:

Dimension | Examples

Diplomatic ties | India and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1947. India and Italy have elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership 2020-2025 Action Plan for bilateral relations

Trade | In 2022, bilateral trade has reached $15bn between both countries. Italy is India’s 4th largest trading partner in the EU, after Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands. The balance of trade has been in India’s favour since the early eighties. India invited Italy to partner in ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ with a focus on the areas of renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, telecom, and space among others.

Investment | Establishment of a ‘Startup Bridge’ between India and Italy (2023)

India-Italy Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition announced in 2021

Indo-Italian Joint Economic Commission Cooperation has been in existence since 1976.

Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement signed in 2023 to ensure safe and legal migration.

Italian car manufacturer Fiat has been operating in India since 1997. Indian IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has a large presence in Italy, with over 2,500 employees in the country.

Cultural ties | Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo (Week of the Italian Language in the World) celebrated the Italian language and culture in India. Year-long Festival of India in Italy ‘Srijan’. Indian community in Italy is the third largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK and the Netherlands.

Science | Italian Space Agency (ASI)-ISRO working group in heliophysics

New Executive Programme of Cooperation for 2025-27 to promote joint research and development in Science & Technology

Education | Italy is a popular destination for Indian students studying abroad. India and Italy have also signed agreements for academic and research cooperation.

Defence | Indian Army played a significant role in the liberation of Italy in the 2nd world war. Joint military exercises and training courses on a regular basis: PASSEX Exercise, MILAN (Naval Exercises)

Collaborations | In 2023, Italy joined the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative’s Science and Technology Pillar. Italy joined the India-led International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Global Biofuels Alliance, and IMEC

Who was Yashwant Ghadge?

Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was an Indian war hero in WWII’s Italian campaign (1943-45). He captured an enemy post in Montone, Italy, at age 23. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military honour.

What was the Italian campaign of World War II?

• Allied Forces fought against the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Italy, Japan).

• Aimed to liberate Italy, beginning with the 1943 invasion of Sicily.

• Naik Ghadge died battling German resistance between the Trasimene/Albert Line and the Gothic Line.

The heroism of Indian soldiers in the war:

• Over 2.5 million Indian soldiers fought for the Allies in WWII.

• Around 50,000 participated in the Italian campaign, with 5,782 casualties.

• Indian forces, including several divisions and brigades, were the third-largest Allied group in Italy.

• They played key roles in battles like Monte Cassino and the Gothic Line breach, earning high recognition.

Insta Links:

• Shaping a trilateral as Rome looks to the Indo-Pacific

Mains Link:

Elucidate upon the potential of a trilateral relationship between India, Japan & Italy.

Prelims Link:

The region often mentioned in the news: (UPSC 2022)

• Anatolia Turkey

• Amhara Ethiopia

• Cabo Delgado Spain

• Catalonia Italy

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(d) All four pairs