Modi Congratulates Meloni as India-Italy Ties Grow Stronger

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she achieved a historic longevity record, with Meloni responding by saying that India–Italy relations are “stronger than ever” and that the two countries have significant opportunities to deepen cooperation.

Meloni’s government reached 1,413 consecutive days in office on September 4, 2026, surpassing the previous post-war record of 1,412 days held by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s second government. The milestone makes Meloni the longest continuously serving Italian prime minister since World War II and the longest-serving head of government in the history of the Italian Republic.

Modi used the occasion to describe Meloni as a friend and said her political milestone reflected the trust and confidence of the Italian people. He also credited her friendship with helping strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and Italy.

Meloni, in turn, thanked Modi for his congratulations and friendship, saying the two countries’ relationship was stronger than ever. She pointed specifically to the Special Strategic Partnership established during their most recent meeting and said India and Italy should use their respective expertise to create new opportunities for economic growth.

Her response also placed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor at the centre of the relationship, signalling that Rome sees its partnership with New Delhi as part of a broader effort to strengthen connectivity and economic links between Europe and Asia.

Meloni breaks Italy’s post-war longevity record

Meloni’s political achievement is significant because Italy has historically experienced frequent government changes.

Her administration completed 1,413 uninterrupted days in office, moving past Berlusconi’s previous post-war record by a single day. Meloni became prime minister on October 22, 2022, after leading the Brothers of Italy party to victory in the general election and forming a coalition government with other right-wing parties.

She is also Italy’s first woman prime minister, giving the longevity milestone an additional historical dimension.

Meloni herself has framed the record less as a personal achievement and more as evidence of political stability. She has argued that stability allows governments to plan, make decisions and maintain long-term commitments.

The record does not automatically indicate that every policy of her government has been successful. It primarily reflects the durability of the coalition and the government’s ability to remain in office without interruption for longer than any other Italian Republican government since World War II.

Modi congratulates his “friend” Meloni

Modi publicly congratulated Meloni after her government reached the historic milestone.

He said the achievement reflected the trust and confidence of the Italian people in her leadership and highlighted the close relationship that has developed between the two leaders.

Modi also pointed to Meloni’s personal role in strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership. He said he looked forward to continuing close cooperation to build a prosperous future for the people of both countries.

The message is significant because India and Italy have substantially expanded their political engagement in recent years, with both governments seeking deeper collaboration across trade, technology, defence, energy and infrastructure.

Modi’s congratulations also came in a year when India itself has highlighted the longevity of his own tenure. He became India’s longest continuously serving elected prime minister on June 10, 2026, after completing 4,399 consecutive days in office.

The parallel milestone gives the exchange between the two leaders an additional political resonance, with each government celebrating an unusually long period of leadership in two different political systems.

Meloni says India-Italy ties are “stronger than ever”

In her response, Meloni thanked Modi for both his congratulations and his friendship.

She said the relationship between India and Italy was stronger than ever and highlighted the Special Strategic Partnership as evidence of the importance both countries attach to their ties.

“The Special Strategic Partnership that we launched during our last meeting is a recognition of the importance of this bond and of the will to unite the expertise of our Nations to create new opportunities for growth,” Meloni said.

Her message indicates that the bilateral relationship is being shaped around practical economic and technological cooperation rather than being limited to diplomatic exchanges.

The two countries have identified multiple sectors in which their capabilities can complement one another, including advanced manufacturing, defence, clean energy, science and technology, artificial intelligence and space.

What is the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership?

India and Italy elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership during Modi and Meloni’s meeting in Rome in May 2026.

At that meeting, the two governments agreed to expand cooperation across a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, research and innovation, space, energy, artificial intelligence, critical technologies, education and culture.

The upgrade reflects the growing strategic importance both governments attach to their relationship.

For India, Italy is an important European partner with strengths in manufacturing, engineering, design, industrial technology and luxury goods. For Italy, India offers access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing major economies along with a large technology and services ecosystem.

The partnership therefore has both diplomatic and economic dimensions.

The goal is to expand collaboration beyond traditional bilateral trade and build deeper links among companies, research institutions, governments and investors.

Why Meloni highlighted the IMEC corridor

Meloni specifically referred to cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC.

The proposed corridor is intended to strengthen connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe through a combination of Shipping, rail and digital infrastructure.

Italy’s interest in the project reflects its position as a major European economy and its geographical location in the Mediterranean.

For India, the corridor offers a potential alternative route for strengthening commercial links with European markets while improving connectivity through the Middle East.

Its significance extends beyond physical transportation. Economic corridors can also encourage investment, energy cooperation, digital connectivity and the movement of goods across multiple regions.

Meloni’s emphasis on IMEC shows that India-Italy cooperation is being considered within a wider European and global connectivity strategy rather than as a purely bilateral project.

India and Italy see “extraordinary opportunities” ahead

Meloni said India and Italy have “extraordinary opportunities for collaboration” and urged the two countries to make use of the opportunities available.

Her statement comes as both governments are trying to expand economic ties in sectors shaped by major technological and geopolitical changes.

Artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean-energy technologies and advanced manufacturing are becoming increasingly important to Europe and India alike.

India has been trying to attract greater investment in technology and manufacturing, while Italy is seeking stronger global partnerships for its industrial base.

That creates potential areas of overlap.

Italian companies have expertise in machinery, engineering, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, industrial design and specialised manufacturing. Indian companies have strengths in information technology, digital services, pharmaceuticals, engineering and a growing manufacturing ecosystem.

Greater cooperation could therefore involve not only trade in finished goods but also joint ventures, supply chains, technology transfer and research collaborations.

Trade and investment are central to the relationship

Economic ties have become one of the major pillars of the India-Italy relationship.

Both sides have an interest in increasing bilateral investment and diversifying the range of products and services exchanged.

The Special Strategic Partnership gives governments a framework for addressing those ambitions at a higher political level.

For Italian businesses, India’s large consumer market and expanding infrastructure create opportunities across multiple sectors. For Indian companies, Italy provides access to European markets, specialised industrial capabilities and established manufacturing networks.

The challenge will be turning political commitments into projects that generate measurable economic outcomes.

That requires easier investment procedures, stronger business-to-business links, predictable regulations and greater cooperation in emerging technologies.

Defence and technology are becoming more important

The relationship is also broadening into areas traditionally associated with strategic partnerships.

During their May meeting, Modi and Meloni agreed to expand cooperation in defence and security, science and technology, space, AI and critical technologies.

Those areas are increasingly connected to economic competitiveness.

Artificial intelligence requires advanced computing infrastructure, research capabilities and skilled workers. Space programmes involve complex engineering and communications technologies. Defence industries increasingly rely on AI, sensors, robotics and secure digital systems.

Collaboration in these sectors could therefore benefit both countries’ strategic and commercial interests.

It could also help diversify supply chains at a time when both India and European countries are seeking greater resilience in critical technologies and industrial production.

Why Italy matters to India’s European strategy

India has been strengthening ties with major European economies as part of its broader effort to expand trade and investment links with the continent.

Italy has a particularly useful role because of its location in the Mediterranean and its industrial strength.

Rome can serve as a bridge between Indian interests in the Mediterranean region and wider European economic networks.

The country’s involvement in IMEC strengthens that potential role further, since the project is intended to connect Indian and European economic centres through the Middle East.

Meloni’s emphasis on strengthening links between the two continents therefore reflects a broader geopolitical calculation as well as a bilateral economic interest.

Meloni’s longevity record gives her added political leverage

Meloni’s ability to remain in office for nearly four years without interruption is particularly notable in Italy’s political system.

Italy has experienced frequent government changes since the establishment of the republic, making coalition stability difficult to maintain over long periods.

Meloni’s government has nevertheless remained intact since October 2022.

The achievement gives her government a stronger claim to political continuity and allows her to highlight long-term policy planning as one of its strengths.

However, longevity and policy success are different measures. The fact that a government remains in office does not by itself establish whether its economic reforms or public policies have achieved their intended results.

Meloni’s record will ultimately be judged by Italian voters on issues including economic growth, employment, public services, migration and the performance of the governing coalition.

Why Modi’s own record made the message notable

There is another reason the exchange between Modi and Meloni stands out.

India had already celebrated Modi becoming the country’s longest continuously serving elected prime minister earlier in 2026.

By congratulating Meloni on her own longevity record, Modi was acknowledging a political milestone similar to one he had recently achieved himself.

The comparison does not imply that the political systems or constitutional arrangements of India and Italy are identical. Their electoral structures, parliamentary systems and political traditions are substantially different.

But both leaders have demonstrated unusual political durability within their respective national systems, and both remain central figures in their countries’ international strategies.

A relationship increasingly built around strategic interests

The India-Italy partnership has evolved significantly from a relationship primarily focused on trade and diplomatic engagement.

Today, both sides are discussing defence, energy, AI, space, critical technologies, research and strategic connectivity.

The upgrade to a Special Strategic Partnership formalises that broader ambition.

Meloni’s latest message reinforces the idea that the relationship has room to grow across both economic and geopolitical areas.

Her reference to IMEC is particularly important because it links Italy’s interests with India’s larger ambition to build alternative and resilient international connectivity networks.

For New Delhi, stronger relations with Rome can also contribute to deeper engagement with the European Union and individual European economies.

What could come next for India and Italy?

The next stage of the relationship will depend on whether the two governments can convert political goodwill into concrete projects.

Trade and investment are likely to remain central, but technology will increasingly shape the partnership.

Cooperation on AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defence technology and space could create new opportunities for companies and research institutions in both countries.

IMEC could become another major area of cooperation if the project advances and participating countries overcome the considerable logistical, financial and geopolitical challenges involved.

Both sides will also have to maintain regular political engagement to ensure that the Special Strategic Partnership continues to produce tangible outcomes.

What Meloni’s reply signals

Meloni’s response to Modi’s congratulatory message was more than a courtesy exchange between two leaders.

By describing India-Italy ties as stronger than ever and explicitly mentioning the Special Strategic Partnership and IMEC, she used the occasion to reinforce Rome’s commitment to deeper cooperation with New Delhi.

For Modi, congratulating Meloni allowed India to highlight its close relationship with an increasingly influential European partner.

The exchange also reflects how personal Diplomacy has become an important element of the relationship between the two leaders. Modi and Meloni have developed a visible rapport through repeated bilateral meetings and international summits, and both governments have used that political momentum to expand institutional cooperation.

A milestone for Meloni, an opportunity for India-Italy ties

Giorgia Meloni’s achievement of becoming Italy’s longest continuously serving post-war prime minister is a major political milestone in a country known for frequent changes of government.

Narendra Modi’s congratulations highlighted the trust placed in Meloni by Italian voters and, importantly, linked her leadership to the strengthening of India-Italy relations.

Meloni’s response reinforced that message. She said the bilateral relationship is stronger than ever and pointed to the Special Strategic Partnership as a platform for combining the two countries’ expertise and creating new economic opportunities.

Her reference to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor also showed that the relationship is increasingly connected to larger questions of Regional Connectivity and Europe-Asia trade.

For India and Italy, the challenge now is to turn that diplomatic momentum into measurable results in trade, investment, defence, technology, energy, research and infrastructure.

Meloni’s longevity record may have provided the occasion for the latest exchange, but the substance of the messages from both leaders points to something larger: India and Italy are seeking to make their relationship a more strategically important partnership across Europe, Asia and the wider Global Economy.