Portrait of Giorgia Meloni
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Giorgia Meloni on Relationship with Narendra Modi

Positive engagement (strong)

Giorgia Meloni holds a clearly positive view regarding her relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has been marked by strong reciprocal diplomatic engagement.

Since taking office, Meloni has prioritized strengthening bilateral ties, notably praising Modi during her visit to India in 2023. Her administration views India as a crucial partner, particularly in the context of economic cooperation and the 'Mattei Plan' for African development.

This positive posture suggests Meloni sees Modi and India as aligning with her broader foreign policy goals, focusing on sovereign nations and strategic partnerships outside traditional European blocs, despite some prior historical tensions in Italian foreign policy regarding India.

Context

As Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni is responsible for setting the nation's foreign policy, making her direct relationship with world leaders like Narendra Modi highly significant for bilateral trade and geopolitical positioning. Her government prioritizes relationships with non-EU, major global powers as part of a 'Eurorealist' approach that often contrasts with previous administrations.

This relationship with India is particularly relevant given Meloni's focus on diversifying energy supplies and promoting investment in Africa through her Mattei Plan, areas where India is also an increasingly important player.

Timeline

  1. Giorgia Meloni visited India where she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu shortly after becoming Prime Minister.
  2. During a joint press conference following their meeting, Meloni offered strong praise for Modi and his governing policies.
  3. Meloni hosted the G7 summit in Apulia, a major international event where high-level cooperation with key partners like India would be a focus, though a direct meeting with Modi is not specified here.

Actions Taken

  1. Diplomatic visit
    Met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an official visit to India.
  2. International summit
    Engaged with Modi at the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia.

Key Quotes

He is the most loved leader in the world.

Press Conference March 2, 2023 — Meloni stated this during a press conference in India.

Related Positions

  • Foreign Policy The relationship with Modi is a key component of her broader strategy to diversify Italy's international partnerships beyond the EU.
  • Mattei Plan India is a potential key partner for Italy's major investment initiative in Africa, which is central to Meloni's foreign policy.
  • G7 Presidency Hosting the G7 summit in 2024 provided a platform to engage with major non-European powers like India.

Comparison

Unlike her earlier, more critical stance on issues involving India related to the Enrica Lexie case (where she advocated for the expulsion of the Indian ambassador), Meloni's post-premiership engagement with Modi is demonstrably cooperative.

Her current positive view of Narendra Modi contrasts with her previous political party's more cautious or adversarial historical stance on certain foreign policy issues, though her government maintains a firm stance on the rule of law.

Sources1

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.