So the DEFENSE guide the cooperation between Italy e India. In her first bilateral trip to Asia since the beginning of the government mandate, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni intends to continue the diplomatic work begun by the previous governments to relaunch bilateral relations with India after almost a decade of freeze mainly due to the marine case. "There is a lot of work to do together, starting from some sectors in which to strengthen our relations: I am thinking of the issue of defense and that of energy security" underlined Giorgia Meloni, during a joint press conference at the end of the bilateral meeting with its Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. But why is Giorgia Meloni's visit to India important?
"We speak of an enlarged Mediterranean, and we consider it enlarged up to here, there is a connection between the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, we want to strengthen that condition", added the Prime Minister. But Giorgia Meloni is not the only one to court India, designated as "the new China". The Indo-Pacific region is a central point of intersection and strategic competition between China and the US. Plus, the fifth world economy it produces a considerable part of global gross domestic product (GDP) and is a hub of technological innovation. The new partnership between Italy and India should respond to these needs.
Meloni in India, the visit that opens a "new chapter" in relations between the two countries
“Today we are establishing a bridge between Italy and India, opening a new chapter and that is cooperation in defense matters for production and development in this sector which can be beneficial for both countries. We also decided to organize some esercitazioni and corsi related to our respective armies. India and Italy are side by side in the fight against terrorism and separatism”. Indian Prime Minister Modi said this during the joint press conference.
The Italian companies in the sector would benefit from the agreement, starting from Leonardo. The Italian defense company had been blacklisted by the Indian government since 2014 for allegedly poor-quality supplies of tankers and helicopters AgustaWestland. But in November 2021, India's defense ministry lifted the ban, and now the Italian company could see major inclusion opportunities open up in its military and civilian aeronautics and helicopter programs. “significant” are the interests of Fincantieri ed Electronics. Furthermore, Delhi ranks among the first importers for this sector.
Membership of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
Meloni has announced Italy's accession to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, an initiative launched by the Indian government in 2015 and based on the concept of "security and growth for all in the region", essentially aimed at containing the assertiveness of Chinese foreign policy. “We have chosen to announce Italy's accession to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative because we believe that in an international context that must be based on rules, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the stability and vision of an Indo is fundamental - Open peaceful and respectful of the rules of sovereignty and integrity of nations”, said Giorgia Meloni.
The energy transition and commercial exchange
The relaunch of cooperation also passes from energy transition, on which a bilateral strategic partnership was launched in 2021 at the bilateral meeting at G20 in Rome between former premier Mario Draghi and Modi: the Indian goal is to produce 2030 gigawatts of installed capacity from renewables by 450, equal to 50% of the national energy mix and to reduce carbon intensity by 45% compared to 2005 levels In this context too Enel Green Power, Snam e Maire Tecnimont can consolidate their presence.
Relations between Italy and India "are particularly solid, especially in commercial relations: theinterchange commercial has reached the record of 15 billion euros and we are convinced that more can be done”, explained Meloni. And again: "Even the resumption of direct flights between our two countries will facilitate trade and investment".
Tribute to Gandhi: "Patriot like Mazzini"
After the welcoming ceremony at the presidential residence, the premier paid tribute to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. "There are few examples in the world of a man who, alone, has accomplished the resurrection of his country with the power of thought and extreme lifelong dedication", Meloni wrote in the message left on the honor book at the Memorial of Gandhi, the Raj Ghat, quoting the Mahatma himself, “thus Gandhi spoke of Joseph Mazzini, one of the fathers of the Italian Risorgimento, also a source of inspiration for the Indian one. Two patriots who have shown the way for our peoples with their actions and works. Italy and India, millenary civilizations that fought for their independence and are today united in the defense of democracy and freedom”.
Meloni: India can ease the way for a just peace in Ukraine”
The summit also discussed the crises linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and others conflitto going on Ukraine, where the differences of views are evident. The Italian government continues to reiterate its support for Ukraine also from a military point of view, while India continues to have an ambivalent position on the issue, as also demonstrated by the recent UN abstention vote on the resolution condemning (again ) the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Modi knows the Italian position of full support for Ukraine. We share the hope that India, as president of the G20, can play a role in facilitating a path towards a cessation of hostilities and a just peace,” said the premier. "Since the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict, India has said that the issue can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy: India is very ready to contribute to any project for peace," the Indian prime minister said.
Indeed, India is the host country of the G20 foreign ministers meeting. “Energy transition, technological transformation, food and energy security, immigration. Italy wants to be the protagonist of global challenges,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on Twitter.
The mission in the United Arab Emirates
Another partnership that Meloni will try to relaunch in its international mission is the one with the United Arabi, after the aftermath of the Alitalia-Etihad affair (which reached the court). However, Italy today is betting a lot on Abu Dhabi to strengthen bilateral collaboration in all areas, with a focus on the energy e technology. During the visit, in fact, the signing of agreements at an institutional level is expected: the declaration of intent on the strategic partnership and the declaration on enhanced cooperation in the context of Cop28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held from 30 November to 12 December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai.
