India views Italy as a key European partner and an influential Mediterranean ally, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday while inaugurating the new Chancery of the Embassy of India in Rome. Highlighting the growing depth of bilateral ties, Jaishankar noted frequent interactions between leaders and officials as a sign of the strengthened partnership. "There is a convergence in our worldviews and a synergy in addressing global and regional issues," he remarked, adding that Italy plays a crucial role in India's engagement with Europe. India and Italy recently unveiled a five-year strategic action plan (2025-29) to advance collaboration in areas such as defence, clean energy, trade, and connectivity. The plan was announced following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Jaishankar underscored the historical and cultural connections between the two nations, noting that much of India's historical engagement with Europe centred on Italy. He also praised the Indian diaspora in Italy for their contributions across sectors, emphasising their role in strengthening bilateral ties. Referring to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Jaishankar described it as a transformative initiative to enhance connectivity between Europe and Asia, agreed upon during India's G20 presidency. During his three-day visit to Italy, Jaishankar will participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Outreach session in Fiuggi, where India is a guest country, and engage in bilateral discussions with counterparts from Italy and other nations. He will also attend the 10th edition of the MED Mediterranean Dialogue in Rome. (With inputs from PTI)
